Honour Rolls and Plaques

Honour Rolls and Plaques
in The Hills

Residents from The Hills Shire have responded to the call for volunteers to enlist in the Australian Armed Forces and serve their country during wartime. Newspaper reports during the First World War in the Windsor and Richmond Gazette 1914-1915 described genial farewells organised by residents in large sheds, schools and school of arts buildings decorated with balloons and banners. Local VIPs, Councillors and politicians made farewell speeches.

Gifts to the departing soldier often included knitted socks, balaclavas, and gloves; pocketknives, pipes, miniature Australian flags and inscribed watches and fountain pens. Entertainment, fundraising auctions and refreshments gave the impression of a carnival atmosphere. There was usually dancing and most functions finished with the song Auld Lang Syne.

Welcome home functions organised by local communities followed a similar format to farewells except that not all soldiers returned. Depending on the community, the soldier may have been presented with an inscribed wristwatch, fountain pen, medal, certificate from Baulkham Hills Shire Council and on some occasions a “nice fat cheque”.

No one could have predicted the tragic loss of young lives with 53,993 Australians killed during combat and thousands more dying from war related injuries. To ensure that their sacrifices would be remembered, local Honour Rolls began to appear attached to public and community buildings. Many a person has stood in front of such Honour Rolls and wondered about the stories behind them.

These are images of the Honour Rolls, Honour Boards and War Memorial Plaques found in The Hills Shire, commemorating those from that area who fought and died in war:

WWI Memorial to Masonic soldiers at Balcombe Heights, 2006
(Click image to magnify)

Click HERE to go to the interview related to this memorial

WWI Memorial Wall - Listing the names of the Masonic soldiers
depicted in the glass memorial above.
(Click image to magnify)

WWII Plaque at Balcombe Heights
(Click image to magnify)

WWII & post war Memorial side view at Balcombe Heights, 2007

WWII & post war Memorial back view at Balcombe Heights, 2007

WWII & post war Memorial closeup at Balcombe Heights, 2007
(Click image to magnify)

WWII Memorial at William Thompson Masonic School Baulkham Hills 1947
(Click image to magnify)

Baulkham Hills Patriotic League Roll Of Honour
now in The Hills District Historical Society Museum
(Click image to magnify)

Carlingford Honour Roll now in Carlingford Library
(Click image to magnify)

Dural World War One Honour Roll
(Click image to magnify)

Dural World War Two Honour Roll
(Click image to magnify)

Glenorie War Memorial south of Memorial Hall Old Northern Road 2009
(details below)

Glenorie War Memorial 1915-1919 plaque

Glenorie War Memorial 1939-1945 A-K plaque

Glenorie War Memorial 1939-1945 K-Z plaque

Glenorie War Memorial Post WWII plaque

WWI Honour Roll in Kellyville Recreation Centre
(Click image to magnify)

Click HERE to view the stories behind the names

WWI Roll of Honour in Kellyville Recreation Centre
(Click image to magnify)

Click HERE to view the stories behind the names

WWII Honour Roll in Kellyville Recreation Centre
(Click image to magnify)

War Memorial in Kenthurst Rotary Park
(Click image to magnify)

War Memorial plaque, Redeemer Baptist School, Nth Parramatta

War Memorial plaque, Redeemer Baptist School, Nth Parramatta