Australians and their Anglo Boer War memorials

Abstract

Since my first visit to Australia some years ago I have been fascinated by the interest I found in that country with the Anglo Boer War. This war was the first time that Australians served as a nation and to this day the interest in the Anglo Boer War is widespread and deep rooted. Museum exhibits and memorials abound in the country and specific events are commemorated annually. The main focus of this paper is on some of the memorials in Australia and Tasmania. Both original and new ones that have been added over the years, especially at the time of the centenary. The first public talk that I gave in Kalgoorlie on the Australian gold fields had the venue moved from the museum to the local town hall because of the response. Further visits led to meetings with members of the military history society in Western Australia, visits to museums and memorials in Perth, Albany, Sydney, Melbourne, Ballarat and lots of small villages, and connections with a number of historians, both amateur and professional, which continue to this day. I have elected to look at memorials that have a specific history, are unique or have an unusual reference to the war and events. There are very many more all over the country in churches, halls, schools, in town parks and other places.

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