59 names added to Cenotaphs in Armadale

A decade of research into the accuracy of WWI veteran names on cenotaphs in the City of Armadale will see 59 names added to two cenotaphs in the City this week.

Thirty one veteran names will be added to the cenotaph in Memorial Park in Armadale, and 28 names to the memorial in Kelmscott on Wednesday 17 April, following former City of Armadale Mayor Linton Reynolds’ research project.

City of Armadale Mayor Henry Zelones OAM, JP said Linton undertook an extensive review of national digital records and search engines to uncover names that were missing or inaccurate on the cenotaphs.

“It’s important that the City has an accurate and inclusive record of its WWI veterans on its cenotaphs, and we would like to thank former Mayor Linton Reynolds for his long term dedication to the project.”

The research into the accuracy and inclusivity of the cenotaphs was a joint project between the former Mayor, the City of Armadale and the Kelmscott and Armadale Returned Services Leagues.

“This has been a very rewarding and challenging project but one that the City has been proud to get behind and support, and we are pleased that the cenotaphs will be updated in time for ANZAC Day,” said Mayor Zelones.

Former Mayor Linton Reynolds said the original cenotaph list had been largely based on memory and contained inaccuracies.

“When the original list of names was drawn up, people only had their knowledge of other people in the district to go by, and generally only listed those that came back to the district after the war. Today, we have access to digitised records and search engines,” said Linton Reynolds.

It was the digital records and search engines that assisted Mr Reynolds with his research into the accuracy and inclusivity of the names on the memorials.

“My research included an extensive review of digital material from Australian Archives, Australian War Memorial digital records, local memorial boards and monuments, Ancestory.com and appeals to the public for information.

“It has allowed me to find people that were born in the district, lived in the district at the time of enlistment and whose next of kin resided here during the war. I have taken an inclusive approach and included all those with ties in the district.

“During the process three men’s names were discovered that needed to be removed from the memorial in Armadale.

“The Armadale memorial included the names of two men who did not go away and one that was on two lists, so they have been corrected. The one who did not leave Australia died while serving as an Instructor at Blackboy Hill and thus has been left on the monument.  Many spelling errors have also been addressed.”

The upgrades were made possible with the assistance of a $20,749 Commemorative Grant received from the Department of Veteran Affairs’ Armistice Centenary Grants Program, and Armadale RSL and Kelmscott/Roleystone RSL each raised $1000.

Linton Reynolds is seeking information for WWII veterans. If you have any information please contact the Birtwistle Local Studies Library on 9394 5641.