Kenthurst – Annangrove War Memorial

Remembrance Day, 11 November, is a significant date in the history of the world being the anniversary of the ending of World War I.

Three soldiers

There are four memorials located throughout the Kenthurst-Annangrove district honouring the men and women who served their country during international conflicts.

The first memorial site is the Kenthurst Literary Institute [School of Arts] on Kenthurst Road built in 1889. This building was well known to the volunteers of World War I, being the focus of the community, and many patriotic functions were held here. The newspaper Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate reported

Saturday February 9 1915, KENTHURST, FOR THE FRONT

The local residents tendered Mr. Albert Butcher a send-off in the local School of Arts on Tuesday. He is leaving for the front. Mr. W. D. Wrench occupied the chair and presented him with a wristlet watch. In replying Mr. Butcher said some one must go and he hoped to see more of the young fellows volunteer. Mr Butcher was aged 30 years.

The second is the Rotary Park Stone Memorial with its bronze plaques listing 120 names of men and women. The third is the almost unknown timber plaque inside the Annangrove Public School and the fourth is a stone memorial recently erected in Annangrove.

In the First World War Australia sent 330,000 soldiers overseas and they suffered 226,000 casualties comprising death, gas or injuries, a 68% rate, which was the highest of any nation. Kenthurst-Annangrove sent 57 men and nine paid the supreme price.

A wreath-laying ceremony will be held at the Kenthurst War Memorial in Rotary Park on Remembrance Day, Sunday, 11 November.

Trevor Patrick is a local historian of the north-west of Sydney, Australia. His latest book, In Search of the Pennant Hills, recounts some of these stories (and others) in more detail.