The 201 white crosses in military lineup in Bruxner Park for six days straddling November 11, the centenary of Armistice, provided a stark reminder of what we commemorate on Remembrance Day.
Each cross represents a Tenterfield life lost on the battlefields of WW1. It states their name, and the date and place of their demise.
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The crosses are not in name order, but in date order; date of death. The lineup begins with John Sharp, killed in action on April 26, 1915 at Gallipoli. It ends with Richard Sydney Rowe, also killed in action, on November 2 1918 at Sardinia. The 199 other lost souls in between are detailed.
The same volunteer crew who created the amazing WW1 tunnel replica in Tenterfield Memorial Hall were at the park at 6am in the cold and rain on Thursday to erect the display. This followed many hours assembling and organising the individual commemorations.
School groups visited the display for a history lesson with heart, while many individuals came to see their family ancestor(s) honoured.
The crosses are being removed from the park early Wednesday morning but will be given a respectful closure.
Tenterfield RSL Sub-branch president Dave Stewart said organisers have received council approval for the crosses to be placed in a makeshift coffin and buried in the Australian War section of the Tenterfield Cemetery.
The grave will be near the entrance gates, between the two Lone Pines grown from seedlings of the famous Lone Pine at Gallipoli.
“In doing so we’ll bring their names and their spirits back to the soil of Tenterfield,” Mr Stewart said.
The burial ceremony is yet to be scheduled.
