Linville War Memorial facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Linville War Memorial |
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Linville War Memorial, 2010
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| Location | George Street, Linville, Somerset Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1914 – 1919 (World War I) |
| Built | 1921 |
| Architect | Tom Cross |
| Official name: Linville War Memorial | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 11 December 2008 |
| Reference no. | 602701 |
| Significant period | 1914–1921 |
| Significant components | memorial – gun, memorial – honour board/ roll of honour, memorial – cenotaph |
| Builders | Frank and Jim Cross |
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The Linville War Memorial is a special monument located on George Street in Linville, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Tom Cross, who was a photographer and artist. His brothers, Frank and Jim Cross, built it in 1921. The memorial was officially revealed on 1 August 1922. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 11 December 2008, meaning it's an important historical site.
Contents
The Memorial's Story
The Linville War Memorial is a small wooden structure with a roof made of terracotta tiles. It stands out near the railway line, close to the local store, hotel, and Progress Hall. Tom Cross, a local photographer, artist, and a veteran of World War I, designed it. His brothers, Frank and Jim, built it in the early 1920s. The community helped by donating materials.
This memorial remembers all the local people who volunteered to serve in World War I. This includes eight young men from Linville who sadly did not come home. Their names are listed on a special panel on the memorial.
Linville's Early Days
The town of Linville started on land that was once part of a large property called Colinton Run. This land was opened for people to settle in 1897. More people moved to the area when it was announced that the Brisbane Valley railway line would be extended. The railway reached Linville in 1910. This helped the local dairy farms by making it easier to send their products to factories. A sawmill also opened in the town in 1912.
The Cross Family's Role
William Cross was one of the first settlers in the area in 1897. His family moved to their new property, which they called Crossdale, in 1898. His son, Tom Cross, was 15 at the time. Tom later moved to Ipswich and then Sydney to study art and work in photography.
Linville and World War I
During World War I (1914–1918), 24 men from Linville volunteered to serve overseas. Some were as young as 18. Eight of these men never returned home. This was a huge loss for the small community of Linville.
Tom and his older brother Ben Cross joined the army in 1915. Tom became famous for his drawings and cartoons. They showed what life was like on troop ships, during training in Egypt, and on the battlefields in France and Belgium. Many of his drawings are now kept at the Australian War Memorial. Tom suffered from "trench feet," a painful condition caused by cold and wet conditions. Ben, sadly, died serving his country.
Why War Memorials Were Built
After World War I, communities across Australia started building memorials. The war had a massive impact, with 60,000 Australian men lost from a population of about four million. Many soldiers were not buried in marked graves. Local memorials were often the only way to remember these servicemen. They were seen as very important and sacred places.
Australian war memorials are special because they usually honor everyone who served, not just those who died. Australians were proud that their first national army was made up entirely of volunteers. All who served were considered worthy of honor. Many memorials list all the names from a local area, showing how much the community was involved in the war. The Linville War Memorial is one of these.
Building the Memorial
Tom Cross designed the Linville War Memorial. His brothers, Frank and Jim, built it. Frank, who was a cabinetmaker, managed the project. All the materials, work, and construction were donated by local people. The memorial was not ready for ANZAC Day in 1921.
In May 1921, the Linville community received a war trophy. This was a German machine gun. After the war, smaller war trophies were given to Australian towns based on their size. Linville, being a small town, received a machine gun. The machine gun given to Linville was captured in April 1918 by the 9th Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment. Five local men from Linville had been part of this battalion.
Having a war trophy likely sped up the building of the Linville memorial. This is because the Queensland State War Trophy Committee said that a war trophy should be a key part of the local memorial. The design of memorials was also a big topic at the time. Some people worried about "inartistic" designs. However, Tom Cross's design for the Linville War Memorial was considered very good.
The memorial is still in its original spot in the center of Linville. In 2008, the Somerset Regional Council arranged for repair work to be done on it.
What the Memorial Looks Like
The Linville War Memorial is made of timber and sits on a base of stone and concrete. It is about 4 meters wide and 2.7 meters deep. The roof looks like a pagoda and is covered with terracotta shingles. The timber posts that hold up the roof have decorative brackets on each corner.
The memorial has an "honour board" made of copper. This board lists the names of the people who served. It faces the street (east). Below it, another plaque honors those who died. On the other side, facing the railway line, is a shield that says, "Linville's tribute to the memory of the brave." There is also a plaque describing the machine gun. The machine gun is set in a concrete block at the base of the memorial. It says: "German machine gun captured on the Western Front by the 9th Battalion AIF 11-4-1918."
Why It's a Heritage Site
The Linville War Memorial was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 11 December 2008. This means it's recognized as an important historical place for several reasons:
- Shows Queensland's History: War memorials show how periods of war and loss affected communities across Queensland. They prove how much patriotism and national pride there was during and after World War I. The Linville memorial, with its list of 24 local men who served (and eight who didn't return), shows the war's impact on a small Queensland town.
- Uncommon Design: This memorial is special because it was designed by a local returned soldier, Tom Cross. Most war memorials from this time were designed by professional architects or stonemasons.
- Key Features of a War Memorial: The Linville War Memorial shows the main features of a World War I memorial. It includes a plaque for local residents who served, has a machine gun war trophy as part of its design, and is in a very noticeable spot.
- Beautiful Design: The memorial is important for its good design, how well it was built, and the materials used. It looks good in its setting.
- Important to the Community: The Linville War Memorial is very important to the local community. It reminds them of a major historical event and is a place to remember those who served.
