MemorialsGloucester Soldiers Club Honour Roll
About
This memorial is a large honour roll, postioned on the left-hand side wall inside the foyer of the Gloucester Soldiers Club. The roll consists of individual name plaques mounted on a timber backing board, which is attached to the wall. Above each group of names are slightly larger plaques listing the name of the related conflict or peacekeeping mission. Two additional plaques are attached higher up on the wall, inscribed with the name of the memorial and the words 'Lest we forget'. Gloucester Soldiers Club The Gloucester Soldiers Club is a two storey, brick and concrete construction, with distinctive architectural features of a post-Second World War building. The facade is adorned with the figure of a soldier at rest and commemorative services are held on site. The history of the club's formation, and its premises on Denison Street, date back to the 1950s. A meeting of ex-servicemen was held on Friday, 25 August 1950 in the Gloucester School of Arts Hall to form a Soldiers' Club. At the time, Mr W.W. Wilson was president of the Gloucester R.S.L. sub-Branch and he oversaw proceedings. The Gloucester Advocate, 29 August 1950, published details of the meeting and listed the names of the office bearers. Builders Vallender & Son of Newcastle commenced work on the club's hall in June 1951; however, several construction and financing problems delayed progress (The Gloucester Advocate, 1 July 1952). On 20 November 1951, the Gloucester Advocate reported Commonwealth Administrator General Sir John Northcott was to visit Gloucester on 1 December to lay the foundation stone. On 1 July 1952, the Adovocate published an account of construction work to date and advised the building was near completion. The club launched on Friday, 17 October and the hall was opened shortly after on 31 October. In time, further additions were made to the building. Extensions were opened by Brigadier Callaghan on 14 February 1959 and a plaque recording this event is positioned at the front entranceway. The building has been referred to by several names over the years, including the Gloucester RSL Memorial Hall, Gloucester Diggers' Hall and Club, the Soldiers' Hall and Supper Room or Club Room, and the RSL Hall, Club, or Building.