Mayor's message - Boer War memorial

Published Date
20/05/2014
News Topic
Council, Heritage, Art & Culture, Mayor's Messages
High Cross Park

Randwick City Council - Mayor's message - 20 May 2014

This Sunday, 25 May, Randwick City Council will be holding a memorial service at High Cross Park, Randwick, to officially unveil the Boer War commemorative plaque on the Randwick City cenotaph.

The cenotaph commemorates all wars served by Australian troops, but has never recognised the Boer War (1899-1902). This is an important milestone for us, as Randwick City has a special historic association with the Boer War.  During the time of the war, Randwick was an area concentrated with military camps set up to train and administer war bound units for a range of different duties.  The Mayor of Randwick in 1915 to 1916, Mr Fredrick Henry Clarke, served two tours of duty in the Boer War.

The Boer War between Great Britain and the Boers broke out in October 1899 in southern Africa. It was the first war in which Australia sent troops as a new nation, on behalf of the Commonwealth in 1901.

Some 23,000 Australians, both Colonial and Commonwealth and including our first women on active service, served in the war. Nearly 1,000 Australians died there.

I will be joined by Her Excellency Prof the Hon Marie Bashir AC CVO, Governor of NSW and Local Member for Coogee, Bruce Notley-Smith, for the unveiling of the commemorative plaque from 10am. I encourage everyone to join with us as we recognise and remember the contribution of Australian troops to the Boer War.

Mayor Scott Nash 

Councillor Scott Nash
Mayor of Randwick        @randwickmayor

Last Updated: 1 March 2022
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