MemorialsMaltese Anzacs First World War Honour Roll
About
The memorial is an aluminum plaque, attached to a limestone-block pillar. The plaque is inscribed with an honour roll of servicemen from the First World War, who were of Maltese descent. The roll is divided into two sections, for those who served in the Australian Imperial Force or the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Each name is accompanied by their service number and their city or town of birth, in either Malta or Australia. The plaque also contains three photographs of veterans, one of which includes a name. It is of Private Waldemar Beck, service number 6969, and is dated 23 December 1916. On this same day, Beck sailed for Devonport in England from Fremantle in Western Australia, on board HMAT A35 Berrima. He died of wounds in France on 6 July 1918. The memorial stands on a paved area, under a covered awning, in the garden of the George Cross Falcons Community Centre in Cringila, NSW, near Wollongong. It is positioned alongside two other pillars, which have interpretative plaques attached. It was designed by Louis Parnis, President of the community centre. He collaborated with the RSL archives and was assisted by South Australian historian Frank Scicluna. The memorial was dedicated on 17 April 2021, by the President of the Wollongong RSL sub-Branch. Members from the Maltese Ex-Servicemen's Association RSL sub-Branch also attended the ceremony. The memorial is the first of its kind in the area and is expected to attract local visitors, as well as those from further away. It is intended annual Anzac Day services will be held on the site.