Remembrance Day project
Aresearch
project delving into the Wimmera’s past will culminate in the form of a unique First World War memorial at Horsham Cemetery.
Project group members, guests and dignitaries will gather at the cemetery on Remembrance Day, November 11, to recognise the breadth of human contribution to the war effort.
Wimmera Association for Genealogy has led the project group to research all personnel who fought, enlisted or were involved in the First World War and buried in the cemetery.
The project, part of Anzac Centenary commemorations, has recognised all nationalities with the only qualification that they were buried in the cemetery.
Association president Ken Flack said apart from Horsham, Wimmera and other Australians recognised, there were others from countries such as Great Britain, Canada and New Zealand.
“They all deserve recognition for their commitment in the war,” he said.
“Many people might not realise there are veterans from the conflict from other parts of the world who either settled or died in Horsham.
“It is appropriate to acknowledge them because many are missing from honour boards. This is one way of acknowledging them.”
Mr Flack said there were 406 names on the new memorial.
“There might well be more in the cemetery, but we’ve been as fastidious in researching details as much as we can based on the records available,” he said.
“What we do know is the people listed on the plaque have been definitely identified as being involved in the war in some way.”
“They all deserve recognition for their commitment in the war” – Ken Flack
Mr Flack said the community was welcome to attend a ceremony to open the new memorial and Horsham’s Cr Mark Radford would lead ceremony proceedings.
“There will be crosses for graves that are unmarked and maps available that list the 406 names and where they are buried,” he said.
The ceremony will be at the cemetery off Davis Drive at 2pm.
There will be light refreshments available at the site after the ceremony and in the case of inclement weather there will be a ceremony and gathering at Wimmera Legacy headquarters in Pynsent Street, Horsham.