THE Northam Sub Branch of the Returned and Services League are well into their Centenary of Anzac program and recently completed another stage with the erection of an obelisk-style War Memorial.
The memorial, made of granite, is about five metres high and carries the Tri Service crest, representing all sections of the Australian Defence Force.
The obelisk is centrally located in the Memorial precinct at 265 Fitzgerald Street, Northam and is highly visible drawing attention to the building behind containing the Rolls of Honour and enlistment plaques and further to the Remembrance Garden.
Northam has never had a traditional style war memorial.
The returning soldiers of World War One had great vision and chose to instead build a memorial wing onto the Northam Hospital.
This was opened by the governor in March 1923.
At the time the cost was 2450 pounds and was the best equipped and most modern hospital wing in the state.
The ward contained 10 beds and a small surgical ward with two beds.
The marble Roll of Honour and 10 brass enlistment plaques that were located on that building were removed prior to demolition and are now housed inside the memorial building at the memorial precinct.
Four new plaques will be unveiled at this year’s dawn service adding 84 names of Northam men to the WWI Roll of Honour.
These men came to light over a five year period of research by local military historian and sub-branch secretary Reg Stevens.
It is not known how or why these names were not originally included but they will now be remembered on their local memorial for evermore.
With the existing plaques the number of Northam fallen named for World War One is 170.
The Northam RSL is proud to be gifting to the community the memorial and the Roll of Honour additions and to continue to honour those who paid the supreme sacrifice.
They will remain a part of the Northam community forever and we will honour our promise to the fallen, “Lest We Forget”.
A plaque donated to the community by the Tinetti family at Purslowe Tinetti Funerals, will be attached to the memorial building in time for the centenary Anzac service.
The plaque has the words of the Ode of Remembrance, an Australian soldier and the Australian flag engraved upon it.
This plaque will also be a reminder to those visiting the memorial that those named upon it will not be forgotten.
The obelisk memorial was erected by Brenton Haynes and his team from Oxter Services and it was funded by federal Anzac funding and by the Northam RSL.
The four Roll of Honour plaques was funded by the Shire of Northam and the Northam RSL and were installed by Oxter Services.
