Dangarsleigh War Memorial facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dangarsleigh War Memorial |
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Dangarsleigh War Memorial
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| Location | 755 Dangarsleigh Road, Dangarsleigh, Armidale Regional Council, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1920–1921 |
| Architect | Alfred Haroldston Perrott (Senior) |
| Owner | Armidale Dumaresq Council |
| Official name: Dangarsleigh War Memorial | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 20 May 2016 |
| Reference no. | 1970 |
| Type | War Memorial |
| Category | Monuments and Memorials |
| Builders | Mark Roberts |
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The Dangarsleigh War Memorial is a special monument in Dangarsleigh, New South Wales. It was built to remember the brave soldiers who fought in World War I. This memorial is unique because a family designed and built it to honor their son. It stands at 755 Dangarsleigh Road and was finished in 1921. Today, the Armidale Regional Council looks after it. This important site was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 2016.
Contents
History of the Dangarsleigh War Memorial
When World War I started in 1914, many Australians eagerly joined the army. Australia had a small population, but over 400,000 men volunteered. They went to war with strong support from their communities.
Soon, the war's impact was felt at home. Many soldiers were overseas, and many lives were lost. Australia had a very high number of casualties compared to its population. This brought much sadness to families across the country.
Most soldiers who died overseas were buried where they fell. Only one soldier's body, Major-General Sir William Throsby Bridges, was brought back to Australia. His funeral became a way for many Australians to mourn their own lost loved ones.
Because bodies were not returned, communities looked for other ways to remember their soldiers. War memorials became very popular. These monuments showed the community's grief, pride, and thanks for the soldiers' bravery. They were built to be respectful and not to make war seem glorious.
The Government of New South Wales even created a board in 1919. This board helped communities design memorials that looked good and were consistent across the state. Common memorial shapes included statues, columns, and obelisks. The obelisk was the most popular because it was simple to build and looked dignified.
A Family's Special Memorial
In Dangarsleigh, a family named Perrott decided to build their own memorial. They wanted to remember their eldest son, Alfred Haroldston Perrott (junior). He was killed in 1917 during the Battle of Passchendaele in Belgium. His father, Alfred Haroldston Perrott (senior), had promised to build a memorial if his son survived.
The Perrott family set aside a part of their property, "Chevy Chase," for the monument. They designed a large and beautiful obelisk. It soon became a memorial for the whole region, honoring all local men who served in the war.
Construction began in October 1920 and took seven months. The memorial is made of concrete and stone. It is known as one of the most detailed memorials in the country. Alfred Haroldston Perrott (senior) designed it with many symbols.
What the Memorial Symbols Mean
The memorial tells a story through its design:
- The base has five pillars, representing the five main parts of the British Empire: Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, and India.
- A triangular base stands for England, Ireland, and Scotland.
- An eight-sided spire represents the eight countries that were united.
- A sphere (a ball shape) on top symbolizes the globe or the whole world.
Community Involvement and Time Capsule
Many local people helped build the memorial. They provided materials and helped with the construction. When the foundation stone was laid in February 1921, a special time capsule was placed inside.
This time capsule contained many items from the community. These included newspapers, books, coins, Aboriginal artifacts, and even letters and photos sent home by local soldiers during the war. This shows how much the community cared.
When the memorial was officially opened in May 1921, the names of 16 local men who served in the war were carved into its marble slabs. Some of these men had died in battle.
The Memorial's Fence and Graves
In 1936, a brick and stone fence was added around the memorial. It has a special entrance gate called a lych gate. This gate is like a small temple and has the Buddhist word "Nirvana" on it. It also has a bell and blue tiles from the St Mary and St Joseph Catholic Cathedral in Armidale. The gate handles show symbols of the navy and army.
The Perrott family loved this memorial deeply. Several family members, including Alfred Haroldston Perrott (senior) and his wife Mabel, are buried at the site. This shows their strong personal connection to the memorial.
In 1991, the Perrott family officially gave the Dangarsleigh War Memorial to the Armidale Dumaresq Council (now Armidale Regional Council). The council now looks after this special place, making sure the memory of the soldiers lives on.
What Does the Memorial Look Like?
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The Dangarsleigh War Memorial is a tall, detailed monument made of concrete and stone. It has an obelisk shape with an eight-sided spire. Its design shows influences from the Middle East and includes many symbols related to World War I.
As mentioned, the monument's base has five pillars for the British Empire's dominions. The triangular shape represents England, Ireland, and Scotland. The eight-sided spire means eight united countries, and the globe on top represents the world.
The monument has marble slabs with the names of 17 local men who fought in World War I.
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Next to the memorial, there are five graves. These are for members of the Perrott family, including Alfred Haroldston Perrott (senior), who designed the memorial.
There is also an information shelter built in 1997, which provides more details about the site.
The entire area is surrounded by the brick and stone fence built in 1936. This fence has a lych gate entrance with a bell and blue tiles. The gate's handles have symbols for the navy and army.
How Well Is It Kept?
The Dangarsleigh War Memorial is in excellent condition. The Armidale Regional Council takes great care of it. The main memorial has not changed since it was built in 1921. Only the fence (1936) and the information shelter (1997) were added later. The memorial itself remains the most important part of the site.
Changes Over Time
- 1934: Grave for Alfred Haroldston Perrott (senior) added.
- 1936: Brick, stone, and mesh fence with lych gate built.
- 1942: Grave for Mabel Jane Perrott added.
- 1962: Grave for Roy Leeson Haroldston Perrott added.
- 1997: Information shelter built.
- 2001: Grave for Lillian Sylvia Benson Perrott added.
- 2010: Grave for Roy Alfred Haroldston Perrott added.
Why Is It a Heritage Site?
The Dangarsleigh War Memorial is very important to the history of New South Wales. It is special because it was designed and paid for by a private family, not the government. This is rare for a World War I memorial.
It shows how a family dealt with their personal loss during the war. The memorial's detailed design and symbols also make it unique. It represents the British Empire and Australia's role as an ally in the Great War.
This memorial is a great example of an obelisk, a common type of war memorial. It continues to be a place for shared mourning and remembrance, especially during ANZAC Day services each year.
The Dangarsleigh War Memorial was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on May 20, 2016, because it meets several important criteria:
- It shows the history of New South Wales: It's a rare example of a private family creating a monument to honor soldiers and remember the many lives lost in World War I. It started as a private memorial but grew to include the wider community.
- It's linked to important people: It has a strong connection to the Perrott family and their "Chevy Chase" property. It also honors the local servicemen whose names are on the memorial.
- It's beautiful and well-designed: Unlike many simpler memorials, the Dangarsleigh War Memorial is very detailed and uses many symbols. Its design shows Australia's role in the Great War and its place in the British Empire.
- It's important to the community: The memorial is a gathering place for the community, especially for the annual ANZAC Day services.
- It can teach us more about history: The time capsule buried inside the memorial contains local items and mementos from soldiers. These items could teach us a lot about life during World War I.
- It's rare: Most war memorials were built by governments or large groups. This is one of only three known World War I memorials in New South Wales that was privately commissioned. Its detailed design and symbolism make it even more unique.
- It's a great example of its kind: While many obelisk memorials exist, the Dangarsleigh War Memorial stands out because of its detailed design and symbolic meaning. It shares the same purpose as other war memorials but is a particularly fine example of the obelisk style.
