Bogan Gate War Memorial
Photograph of an ANZAC Day service at Bogan Gate with a poppy – the symbol synonymous with Remembrance Day worldwide. Source: State Library Archives and Australian War Memorial website
Most, if not all, country towns have a war memorial. A monument to commemorate those who made the supreme sacrifice; war memorials began after the First World War and have since included all other conflicts that Australian troops have been called upon.
NOTE: An excellent resource of our nation’s memorials can be found at https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/blog/a-nation-of-memorials
In this regard, Bogan Gate is no different. What makes Bogan Gate’s cenotaph different is that it is located in the cross-section of two main streets! Located in the middle of Lachlan and Hutton Streets is the Bogan Gate war memorial clock tower – a beautiful monument that remembers those who lived in the area, served their country and some who gave their lives during that service.
To read more about The Flying Officer from Bogan Gate click here
PLANNING
Information found in Gateway to the Bogan Book 2 shows that from planning to unveiling the monument was a quick turnaround:
“At an early meeting in the Hall on 16th October 1920, Mesdames Magill, Marshall, Black, Stack, Christie and Schofield, and Messrs. W J Magill (chair), Christie, Kearney, Clucas, McAuley, Pett, Schmidt and the secretary Stack, were present. The credit balance in the bank stood at £193/11/5, resulting from various functions run by the ladies.”
At later meetings, Mesdames Coster, Coombs, W J Magill, J M Magill, McAuley, McMaster, and Messrs, Bridekirk, McMaster, Coombs, Perks, Hood, Ferguson, Rawson, A’Beckett, McKeowen, Herbert and Marshall were listed as being in attendance. A collection from the district was organised, either wheat for the Memorial Pool or money donated to the fund.
On 7th May 1921, a big meeting took place with W J Magill in the chair and about 50 present. They were made aware that about £500 would be needed for a monument. Approximately £373 was in hand and the ladies had raised £77/12/2 from a bazaar The site was settled on – the intersection of Hutton and Lachlan Streets. Mr Nowland submitted two designs and one with the clock tower, to cost £700 was chosen on a show of hands. Mr Dodd offered to call for tenders and supervise the erection for 2½% of the contract price and the Sydney Morning Herald was to carry an advertisement for the contract.
A tender from Synchronome Electrical Co. of Australasia Ltd. for erection of electric clock for Memorial Tower for the sum of £150, complete in working order was accepted. The Commercial Banking Co. of Sydney were to be asked if the master clock or transmitter could be placed in Bank premises. The final tender of Hedges and Co. for £740 (including £150 for clock) was accepted and included names 6/- per dozen and letters extra.
A biggish meeting of about 35 people on 26th August 1922, decided the unveiling ceremony would be on 9th September 1922, Mr Whitmill Shire President, was invited to unveil the memorial. There was some trouble with adjusting the clock and Prouds Ltd. of Sydney sent a mechanic up for £25/10/- to correct the problem.
After World War II the names of Bogan Gate people who enlisted, were added to the tower, and each ANZAC Day a remembrance service has been held at the Monument. Earlier services with a march, address and wreath laying were held in the afternoon, music for the hymns supplied with the church pedal organ beside the monument. In recent times however, a simple remembrance service at Dawn is observed.
Gateway to the Bogan Book 2 (1997) pages 74 and 75
Newspaper reporting on the progress of the soldiers’ memorial. Source: The Forbes Advocate Friday 11 February 1921, page 6
Newspaper reporting the latest updates on the soldiers’ memorial for Bogan Gate. Source: Western Champion Thursday October 27, 1921, page 18
UNVEILING
In 1922 Bogan Gate was then part of Goobang Shire. So it was fitting that then Shire President, Councillor John Whitmill, be on hand to dedicate the memorial at its official unveiling. The Forbes Advocate report detailed the description of this monument:
The memorial takes the form of a clock tower with four dials, electrically controlled, each two feet [0.6 metres] in diameter. The tower is 21 feet 6 inches [6.6 metres] high; the base is of Bowral Trachyte; the column is of Pyrmont free stone – 15 tons altogether being used in the whole construction. The base is 6 feet 6 inches square [1.98 metres square] and the tower is 3 feet 6 inches square [1.1 metres square]. The contract price of the work was £735, which includes £150 for the clock. There are also four marble tablets inscribed with the 80 names of the local boys who enlisted, 19 of whom made the great sacrifice, and their names are inscribed on a separate panel.
The Forbes Advocate (1922) page 3
Final plans are made for the unveiling of the Bogan Gate war memorial. Source: Western Champion Thursday 31st August 1922, page 9
Photograph of the unveiling of the war memorial on September 9, 1922. Source: Gateway to the Bogan (1973) page 71
A splendid monument – a Forbes journalist is full of praise for the residents of Bogan Gate. Source: The Forbes Advocate Friday 1st September 1922, page 4
Photograph of Bogan Gate war memorial, circa 1920s. Source: State Library Archives
Utilising the lesser used definition of pathetic – meaning “affecting or moving the emotions” – this detailed report highlights the significance and importance of the town’s war memorial. To read the full article click here. Source: The Forbes Advocate Tuesday 12 September 1922, page 3
Excerpt from a detailed report from local Parkes newspaper. To read the full report click here. Source: Western Champion Thursday 14 September 1922, page 19
To read about Breaker Morant and his unique link to Bogan Gate click here
REMEMBERING
An undated photograph of Bogan Gate with the war memorial prominent on the intersection. Source: State Library Archives
Photograph of the Bogan Gate cenotaph. Source: War Memorial Register website
Close up photograph of one of the plaques on the Bogan Gate cenotaph. Source: War Memorial Register website
Photograph of the War Memorial Clock Tower. The square clock tower built of sandstone with plaques attached. Since 2007 the original stone plaques have been replaced with brass ones. Source: War Memorial Register website
2015 was a significant year for all Australians, marking the 100th Anniversary of ANZAC Day. Centenary celebrations had been planned for almost 12 months and Bogan Gate was no exception. The Forbes Advocate reported that 700 people attended the dawn service at Bogan Gate War Memorial (Source: Forbes Advocate website) Part of the special events included a video of the ANZAC Day services at Bogan Gate and Trundle. This DVD is part of the reference section of Parkes Shire Library’s Family & Local History Resource room.
A large turnout for the centenary of ANZAC Day dawn service at Bogan Gate. This is a still image of video available as a reference item in Parkes Shire Library titled ANZAC 100 Years: Gallipoli 100th Anniversary ANZAC Day 2015 Bogan Gate & Trundle.
To read about the amazing nurses from the Parkes Shire who served in the First World War click here
With the centenary of Bogan Gate’s war memorial approaching (three years’ time at time of publishing this blog) the cenotaph has required maintenance work. The latest work in 2016 occurred due to a NSW Government grant Source: https://www.parkeschampionpost.com.au/story/4293444/important-funding-for-bogan-gate/
Photograph of ANZAC Day service at Bogan Gate in 2017. The Trundle Troop of the 6th Light Horse are in the background as dawn breaks. Source: Parkes Champion Post website
Parkes Shire Library would like to thank the following people and organisations for their assistance with this blog post:
- State Library Archives;
- Australian War Memorial;
- War Memorial Register;
- Monument Australia website;
- Parkes Champion Post;
- The Forbes Advocate;
- Trove;
- all Bogan Gate residents;
- Parkes Shire Council; and
- staff of Parkes Shire Libraries.
If you have stories of Bogan Gate War Memorial that you are willing to share please contact Parkes Shire Library via library@parkes.nsw.gov.au so that they can be shared and kept for posterity on this blog. Alternatively, you may leave comments on this page.
REFERENCE LIST
Feature Picture Images
- ANZAC Day Service – Bogan Gate, NSW [Parkes At Work and Play – 05150]. (n.d.). Retrieved April 17, 2019, from http://archival.sl.nsw.gov.au/Details/archive/110309784
- Australian War Memorial. (November 1, 2018). Remembrance Day Poppy [Digital image]. Retrieved April 17, 2019, from https://www.awm.gov.au/get-involved/commemorative-poppy
- Claire Hunter (December 12, 2018). A Nation of Memorials. Retrieved April 17, 2019, from https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/blog/a-nation-of-memorials
- THE SOLDIERS’ MEMORIAL. (February 11, 1921). The Forbes Advocate (NSW : 1911 – 1954), p. 6. Retrieved April 16, 2019, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article100354350
- BOGAN GATE. (October 27, 1921). Western Champion (Parkes, NSW : 1898 – 1934), p. 18. Retrieved April 16, 2019, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113522105
- BOGAN GATE. (August 31, 1922). Western Champion (Parkes, NSW : 1898 – 1934), p. 9. Retrieved April 16, 2019, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article116881574
- C.R. Judson (1973). Gateway to the Bogan: The story of Bogan Gate & Burrawang Station. Orange, N.S.W.: Central Western Daily Print. page 71
- A SPLENDID MONUMENT (1922, September 1). The Forbes Advocate (NSW : 1911 – 1954), p. 4. Retrieved April 17, 2019, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article218606320
- World War I monument in foreground – Bogan Gate NSW [Parkes At Work and Play – 01982]. (n.d.) Retrieved April 15, 2019, from http://archival.sl.nsw.gov.au/Details/archive/110306624
- BOGAN GATE (September 12, 1922). The Forbes Advocate (NSW : 1911 – 1954), p. 3. Retrieved April 15, 2019, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article218598419
- Gateway to the Bogan: Book 2. (1997). Bogan Gate, NSW: Bogan Gate Centenary Committee.
- BOGAN GATE. (Septeber 14, 1922). Western Champion (Parkes, NSW : 1898 – 1934), p. 19. Retrieved April 15, 2019, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article116881764
- Complete block burnt out by two fires within one month – no fire brigades available, buckets of water used – Bogan Gate, NSW [Parkes At Work and Play – 00469]. (n.d.). Retrieved April 17, 2019, from http://archival.sl.nsw.gov.au/Details/archive/110305116
- Rawson, H., Rawson, C., & Roden, D. (n.d.). War Memorial Clock Tower [Digital image]. Retrieved April 11, 2019, from https://www.warmemorialsregister.nsw.gov.au/content/bogan-gate-war-memorial
- Rawson, H., Rawson, C., & Roden, D. (n.d.). War Memorial Clock Tower [Digital image]. Retrieved April 15, 2019, from https://www.warmemorialsregister.nsw.gov.au/content/bogan-gate-war-memorial
- McKay, G. (April 29, 2015). Big crowd at Bogan Gate Anzac service. Forbes Advocate. Retrieved April 17, 2019, from https://www.forbesadvocate.com.au/story/3045211/big-crowd-at-bogan-gate-anzac-service/
- Australian War Memorial (Director). (2015). ANZAC 100 Years: Gallipoli 100th Anniversary ANZAC Day 2015 Bogan Gate & Trundle[Motion picture on DVD]. Australia.
- Important Funding for Bogan Gate War Memorial maintenance work. (November 18, 2016). Parkes Champion Post. Retrieved April 7, 2019, from https://www.parkeschampionpost.com.au/story/4293444/important-funding-for-bogan-gate/
- Bill Jayet (April 27, 2017). Trundle Troop of the 6th Light Horse at Bogan Gate War Memorial [Photograph found in Parkes Champion Post]. Retrieved April 17, 2019, from https://www.parkeschampionpost.com.au/story/4623654/anzac-day-around-the-parkes-shire-photos/#slide=12 (Originally photographed April 25, 2017)
History Parkes 
A good report with some excellent research. In particular the early photos showing the context of the streetscape and the large hotel which dominated the intersection. I will ensure this information is psted into the Parkes Heritage Inventory database which is the electronic storehouse for local history and places deserving of protection. David Scobie. Parkes Heritage Advisor.
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Thanks, David – great to receive feedback such as this. Thank you for all your work too.
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