Erina District War Memorial

About

Note: This memorial has been relocated to the Terrigal Foreshore War Memorial. Former description: A white rotunda-style war memorial with mounted commemoration plaques, and a centerpiece plinth bearing a cross, helmet and rifles sculpture. It commemorates those from the Erina district who served in the First World War, Second World War, Korea and Vietnam. In the winter of 1920, Erina Shire Council received a letter from the State War Trophies Committee (NSW). This letter established that two machine guns were to be offered to the Erina district by the War Trophies Commission. This was a prime motivator influencing the creation of the war memorial in the Erina Shire, along with the strong desire of the local community to memorialise those of the Erina district who died with a befitting sacred site of memory, mourning and reflection. The Erina District War Memorial Committee was thereby established, with the necessary trustees elected, as required by State War Trophies Committee (with one Trustee required to be ex-Australian Imperial Force), and a Committee, including, President: Walter Herbert Weiss (Headmaster of Erina Heights Public School) and Secretary: George Anderson Walpole (Headmaster of Erina School). Weiss had three sons enlist for the First World War, with only one son returning home. A further son died during the Second World War, as a prisoner of war while building the Burma Railway. As reported in the Gosford Times/Wyong District Advocate on 15 November 1923, p. 3, President Weiss stated at the opening ceremony, the memorial ‘would ever keep in loving memory those who had gone at the Empire's call to fight for freedom, had given up their lives so that Australia, with other parts of the British Empire, might remain happy and free. The memorial was a sign that these brave men were not forgotten’.[1] In order to receive the coveted artillery, the people of Erina Shire raised funds to purchase a small portion of land adjoining the Church at the junction of The Entrance Terrigal Drive – land which would afford them the opportunity to receive the military weaponry. Ten local, First World War veterans are recorded on the Erina District War Memorial on plaque 1: Arthur Banks (Matcham), Cyril Martin (Matcham), Frank Ritchie (Wamberal), Frederick and Eric Weiss (Erina), Albert Bean (Erina), John and Michael Farrell (Wamberal), Victor McKenna (Erina) and Clarence Wright (Erina). The Erina District War Memorial was relocated from its original site due to road work upgrades and expansion in 1986. It was rededicated on 6 August 1986. From 1986 to 2018, it was situated on vacant land at the Salvation Army Citadel, along The Entrance Road, Erina. The new site for the Erina District War Memorial is yet to be determined. Note: this memorial previously had been referenced as: War Memorial for Wamberal, Terrigal, Erina and Matcham. Its original name is Erina District War Memorial.