Semaphore War Memorial
Four foundation stones laid 27 Apr 1924; by Mayor H Slade on behalf of the citizens, by Miss Edith A Sanders on behalf of widows & orphans, by Mrs Magnus Wald on behalf of the parents of those who fell, and by Colonel C P Butler on behalf of the Returned Sailors & Soldiers. Unveiled 24 May 1925, replacing earlier temporary Memorial Arch.
“A number of plans for the memorial had been examined. . . it was suggested that the shore end of the jetty be widened to a depth of 120 ft. and a monument in the shape of a pedestal surmounted by a clock be erected.” [Daily Herald 14 Mar 1922]
“Bearing no names, but just the simple inscription, ‘In Memory of All Who Fell in the Great War, 1914-1918’, the Semaphore Soldiers' Memorial will stand at the shore end of the jetty on the site lately ocupied [sic] by the temporary memorial arch. Selected from 25 designs, the chosen one is a massive granite clock tower, surmounted by a female figure representing Peace. This statue, carved from Italian marble, will stand life-size. The four-dialled clock, with faces 4 ft. in diameter, will be electrically driven, the current being supplied by a battery. . . The bottom step of the monument will be 16 ft. square, and the whole structure, with the exception of the statue, will be in grey granite from Harcourt, Victoria.” [News 14 Aug 1923]
“The corner stones are symbolical of the men who rallied from the four corners of the globe in answer to Britain's call.” [Register 28 Apr 1924]
“The Mayor was handed a souvenir trowel by Mr. Gower, and, on behalf of the citizens, declared the stone ‘well and truly laid’. . . On behalf of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers’ League, Col. C. P. Butler, D.S.O., laid the second corner stone. . . Another stone to commemorate the deeds of their sons was laid by Mrs. Magnus Wald, on behalf of the mothers. . . ‘Husbands and fathers had been left on the field of war’, said Miss E. A. Sanders, who, on behalf of the widows and orphans, laid the other stone.” [Port Adelaide News 2 May 1924]
“The impressive granite monument standing at the approach to the Semaphore Jetty, erected to the memory of sailors and soldiers who fell in the Great War, was unveiled by Lieut.Col. L.O. Betts, O.B.E., President of the Semaphore and Port Adelaide branch of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers' Imperial League. . . Col. Betts unveiled the statue of the Angel of Peace, with wings outspread, and with symbolical palm in hand, which surmounts the tower. He said that it was nearly 11 years since the peace of the world was upset by Germany. When Great Britain entered the fight, Australia's duty was plain. She answered the call by sending over 300,000 volunteers. Of that huge army, more than 60,000 failed to return.” [Register Advertiser 25 May]
“The Mayor announced that the Misses Badcock, who had conducted the Lothian House College at South terrace, Semaphore, had attended his office at the Town Hall on Saturday morning and handed him the sum of £104, to be placed to the credit of the memorial fund. Some time ago the ladies had conducted a most successful fair, the proceeds of which were to have been expended on gymnasium improvements. As the school was subsequently closed the problem arose what to do with the money. The Misses Badcock got in touch with the parents, who were unanimously of the opinion that the money should be kept in the district, and it was decided to donate the sum towards the memorial funds.” [Port Adelaide News 29 May 1925]
“Grey skies, grey sea, and a grey monument standing four square to all the winds that blow; and crowded about its base were those who had lost sons, brothers and comrades in the deadly conflict that shook the world those few short years ago. Flags here and there lent a touch of color to the scene, but Nature herself seemed to mourn the dead, with a cloak of sombreness she hung over all. Semaphore people and others from afar were gathered to witness the unveiling of the memorial to ‘All those who fell during the great war’, as the bronze tablet so simply told, and to those present was brought home the magnitude of the sacrifice made by the glorious dead.” [News 25 May 1925]
“Semaphore. . . I have not yet seen the plan of the proposed amusement scheme. If it is the intention of the Port Adelaide City Council to permit buildings to be erected almost at the foot of the war memorial, I can promise that the returned men of the district will be immediately up in arms against the scheme.” [News 19 Aug 1925]
Semaphore War Memorial
Four foundation stones laid 27 Apr 1924; by Mayor H Slade on behalf of the citizens, by Miss Edith A Sanders on behalf of widows & orphans, by Mrs Magnus Wald on behalf of the parents of those who fell, and by Colonel C P Butler on behalf of the Returned Sailors & Soldiers. Unveiled 24 May 1925, replacing earlier temporary Memorial Arch.
“A number of plans for the memorial had been examined. . . it was suggested that the shore end of the jetty be widened to a depth of 120 ft. and a monument in the shape of a pedestal surmounted by a clock be erected.” [Daily Herald 14 Mar 1922]
“Bearing no names, but just the simple inscription, ‘In Memory of All Who Fell in the Great War, 1914-1918’, the Semaphore Soldiers' Memorial will stand at the shore end of the jetty on the site lately ocupied [sic] by the temporary memorial arch. Selected from 25 designs, the chosen one is a massive granite clock tower, surmounted by a female figure representing Peace. This statue, carved from Italian marble, will stand life-size. The four-dialled clock, with faces 4 ft. in diameter, will be electrically driven, the current being supplied by a battery. . . The bottom step of the monument will be 16 ft. square, and the whole structure, with the exception of the statue, will be in grey granite from Harcourt, Victoria.” [News 14 Aug 1923]
“The corner stones are symbolical of the men who rallied from the four corners of the globe in answer to Britain's call.” [Register 28 Apr 1924]
“The Mayor was handed a souvenir trowel by Mr. Gower, and, on behalf of the citizens, declared the stone ‘well and truly laid’. . . On behalf of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers’ League, Col. C. P. Butler, D.S.O., laid the second corner stone. . . Another stone to commemorate the deeds of their sons was laid by Mrs. Magnus Wald, on behalf of the mothers. . . ‘Husbands and fathers had been left on the field of war’, said Miss E. A. Sanders, who, on behalf of the widows and orphans, laid the other stone.” [Port Adelaide News 2 May 1924]
“The impressive granite monument standing at the approach to the Semaphore Jetty, erected to the memory of sailors and soldiers who fell in the Great War, was unveiled by Lieut.Col. L.O. Betts, O.B.E., President of the Semaphore and Port Adelaide branch of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers' Imperial League. . . Col. Betts unveiled the statue of the Angel of Peace, with wings outspread, and with symbolical palm in hand, which surmounts the tower. He said that it was nearly 11 years since the peace of the world was upset by Germany. When Great Britain entered the fight, Australia's duty was plain. She answered the call by sending over 300,000 volunteers. Of that huge army, more than 60,000 failed to return.” [Register Advertiser 25 May]
“The Mayor announced that the Misses Badcock, who had conducted the Lothian House College at South terrace, Semaphore, had attended his office at the Town Hall on Saturday morning and handed him the sum of £104, to be placed to the credit of the memorial fund. Some time ago the ladies had conducted a most successful fair, the proceeds of which were to have been expended on gymnasium improvements. As the school was subsequently closed the problem arose what to do with the money. The Misses Badcock got in touch with the parents, who were unanimously of the opinion that the money should be kept in the district, and it was decided to donate the sum towards the memorial funds.” [Port Adelaide News 29 May 1925]
“Grey skies, grey sea, and a grey monument standing four square to all the winds that blow; and crowded about its base were those who had lost sons, brothers and comrades in the deadly conflict that shook the world those few short years ago. Flags here and there lent a touch of color to the scene, but Nature herself seemed to mourn the dead, with a cloak of sombreness she hung over all. Semaphore people and others from afar were gathered to witness the unveiling of the memorial to ‘All those who fell during the great war’, as the bronze tablet so simply told, and to those present was brought home the magnitude of the sacrifice made by the glorious dead.” [News 25 May 1925]
“Semaphore. . . I have not yet seen the plan of the proposed amusement scheme. If it is the intention of the Port Adelaide City Council to permit buildings to be erected almost at the foot of the war memorial, I can promise that the returned men of the district will be immediately up in arms against the scheme.” [News 19 Aug 1925]