Tenterfield Boer War Memorial

About

The Tenterfield Boer War Memorial features a sandstone statue of a rifleman, standing at ease, holding a carbine rifle in his right hand. He stands atop a sandstone dome, supported by a granite and sandstone pillar base, with decorative marble columns supporting the dome. Four Carrara marble plaaques are attached to the base of the monument and are inscribed with leaded lettering.  On 21 March 1903, the Maitland Weekly Mercury published the below description of the memorial: A sandstone plinth covers the panels and carries four short sandstone bases supporting four solid marble columns. In the space between the columns is a sandstone die, bearing the crest and motto of the Rifles. The motto is Toujours Pret–"Always Ready".  The statue was cut out of Ravensfield sandstone ... and is the work of Charles O'Kelly, a Sydney sculptor.  The memorial was designed to commemorate three members of the Tenterfield Mounted Rifles who lost their lives in South Africa, during the Boer War. It was established by the comrades of the fallen soldiers and the construction work was undertaken by Stonemason Browne of Maitland. The memorial was unveiled by Colonel Onslow from Sydney on 22 April 1903. In 2021, the Tenterfield RSL sub-Branch commissioned Mr Robin White of Queensland Heritage Masonry to survey the momument and prepare a thorough condition report. The report was supported by a Community War Memorials Fund grant from the NSW Government. Mr White made several recommendations for cleaning, restoration, and ongoing maintenance. Overall, he commented:  The Tenterfield Boer War Memorial is a well-proportioned and excellently constructed memorial, generally in good condition for its age, the use of a locally carved sandstone statue sets it apart from most other war memorials in Australia. The memorial is located in front of the Tenterfield and District Soldiers Memorial Hall. It is surrounded by a timber 'palisade' fence and gardens.

Photos