M.U.I.O.O.F. Loyal Elsmore Lodge No. 341 Great War Honour Roll

About

The memorial is an ornately decorated bronze honour roll for the First World War. The left panel is inscribed with the names of members of the Elsmore Lodge of the Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows (M.U.I.O.O.F) who served in the war.   The honour roll was designed by the Wunderlich Company of Sydney, NSW, noted manufacturers of stylised honour rolls for the First World War. They are found throughout the New England and North West Regions of NSW. The Elsmore Lodge roll is typical of their work. The lodge name is inscribed on a small plaque at the top of the board. The middle panel is decorated with a rising sun motif and a laurel wreath in the centre, surrounding the dedication. The letters M.U.I.O.O.F. adorn a scroll-like banner, positioned along the bottom border. The right panel is blank and no end year is provided for the war.  The memorial was unveiled in the Elsmore School of Arts Hall on Saturday, 13 October 1917 by Mrs Rod McLennan, mother of one of the soldiers listed on the roll. The Inverell Times, 19 October 1917, described the function in detail. They reported:  a numerous assemblage of local people foregathered to do honor to the members of the Elsmore Lodge of the Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows, who are now on active service in France. Forty members of the organisation assembled on the stage and Mr F.C. Stephens, as presiding officer, acted as chairman. After speeches, Mrs McLennan unveiled the roll, which was covered by the Union Jack and the Australian flag. Her son, Lance Sergeant Harold George McLennan, would later be awarded a military medal for gallantry in the Somme on 8 August 1918.  The memorial is now located on Green Valley Farm in Tingha, NSW. Access to it is restricted to the opening hours of the venue. The Elsmore branch of the M.U.I.O.O.F. was opened on Wednesday, 25 September 1912. The ceremony was performed by the District Grand Master, Brother William Renshaw, and visitors came from Tingha and Inverell. Brother L. Channon was installed as the Noble Grand Officer (The Inverell Times, 30 September 1912).