Armistice Centenary War Memorial
Keeping the Spirit Alive through the Power of Community
Background
When the Great War broke out in 1914, the first men to be called up in defence of the Nation were the members of QRA’s rifle clubs throughout Queensland. It was these Riflemen who took part in the expeditionary force which captured German New Guinea. A smaller force was committed to manning the fortifications on Thursday Island.
As the War progressed many more QRA Rifle Club members joined the AIF and fought in many locations including the Gallipoli Peninsula and Western Front. At the end of the Great War, some 568 of the 5,316 QRA Rifle Club members who joined the AIF, had been killed on Active Service.
As the Nation approached the 100th anniversary of the Armistice that ended the Great War of 1914-1918, the QRA Museum Committee recognised that there was no discrete memorial established in Queensland, which records the loss of the 568 Riflemen in the Great War, and there was no comprehensive record of the names of these Riflemen, with only approximately 145 names recorded on Honour Rolls in the QRA Museum.
With the passage of time and potential loss of historical records, the QRA Museum Committee identified that here was an urgent need to establish a suitable memorial to honour these WWI soldiers’ significant contribution to our Nation, in time for the 100th anniversary of the Armistice which ended the Great War of 1914-1918. Also, efforts were to be continued to research and record the names of the remainder of those Riflemen, who paid the Supreme Sacrifice, on QRA Museum honour boards.
In early 2017 Mr J Johnstone OAM (QRA Museum Committee Chair and former QRA President) along with Mr Richard Kenny OAM (Museum Committee Member and former Brisbane Mariners RC President and former MDRA President) established a Project Team to begin planning for the construction of a suitable memorial at the Belmont Shooting Complex. Soon after, LTCOL (retd) Bob Cramp, Mr Anthony Swaine (who has provided invaluable assistance with design and drafting services) and Chaplain LTCOL (retd) Graeme Ramsden OAM, joined the project team.
Mr Peter Doig, Executive Officer of the QRA, has provided valuable and ongoing support to the Project Team, was instrumental in gaining QRA approval for the site of the ACWM, and has supported the conduct of commemorative services at the ACWM.
The Project Team was transformed into the Commemorations Committee, a sub-committee of the QRA in 2019.
Initial War Memorial Funding and Construction
Mr Ross Vasta MP, Federal member for Bonner, advised the Project Team, in early 2017, that grants for memorials were being made under the Armistice Centenary Grants Program, administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA).
The Project Team, chaired by Mr Johnstone, developed a site plan for the proposed War Memorial and submitted a funding bid for the construction of a Memorial Gate at the primary entrance to the Belmont Shooting Complex, off Old Cleveland Road, and an adjacent circular Memorial structure.
A Grant of $10,000 was received from DVA and this was matched by a contribution of $10,000 from the QRA, and additional donations were received from BSUA, the QRA Museum and private donations, to achieve the $38,000 required for construction of Stage One of the War Memorial.
The QRA approved the construction to proceed at the main entrance to the Belmont Shooting Complex and the Memorial was officially renamed as the Armistice Centenary War Memorial (ACWM).
Scared to the memory of the more than 500 Riflemen of the Queensland Rifle Association who gave their lives in the Great War of 1914-1918 for our freedom and the men and women Australia from all shooting disciplines who have served in their Nation’s defence and through their sacrifices contributed to a lasting peace for the Australian people.
Their Names Liveth For Evermore
