Wingham District Great War Honour Roll

About

This handsome honour roll was established in 1921. It was made of Queensland Maple and cost 18 pounds and 10 shillings. The board lists the names of 40 members of the Australian Imperial Force from Mooral Creek, Strathcedar, Killabakh, and Cedar Party. The lettering is painted in gold and the names are surmounted by a painting of a laurel wreath, also in gold.  The roll was unveiled at the Cedar Party Creek Public School on 19 February 1921. A detailed report of the event was published in The Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Observer on 25 February. Mr C.E. Powell acted as chairperson and Mrs Machin, Mayoress of Wingham, performed the unveiling ceremony. After the unveiling, the audience travelled to the Church of England grounds where a captured war trophy had been placed in position. The chairman read the description of the trophy: "Light German machine gun, captured by the 34th Battalion A.I.F. in the Australian advance of Warneton, east of Amiens, in August 1918 during the great final offensive on the Western Front." The chairman explained the conditions for the trophy were: "1. That it should be exhibited in a public space; 2. Three trustees should be appointed and 3. it should be received at a public function." There whereabouts of the gun are now unknown.  The school closed in December 1968. When Cedar Party Hall also closed, the roll was transferred to the Anglican Church in Cedar Party. The church was subsequently deconsecrated in the mid 1990s. Since that time, it has been located in Killabakh Public Hall in the adjacent rural locality. Notes on veterans' names: The Australian War Memorials' Roll of Honour states J B (John Bowden) Ritchie was also known as John Ricketts. The Roll also gives the rank of Private to J Woollard.