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Heathcote War Memorial

Heathcote War Memorial, located at the corner of Flavell Street and Martindales Road, was unveiled in 1925.

Anzac Day ceremony at Heathcote War Memorial
Anzac Day ceremony at Heathcote War Memorial. Donor (dnr): Ruth Trent. No known copyright

A meeting of forty Heathcote residents was held in the Club Hall on 27 May 1922 to consider erecting a memorial to soldiers from the Heathcote district. Although the ideas of a memorial swimming bath or pavilion were raised, it was decided to erect an obelisk. The corner of Martindales Road and Station Road was considered as a potential site. A committee was formed.

By July 1923, it was decided that the original site was unsuitable due to concerns that the the Railway Department might potentially need to use the land.

In October 1924, the war memorial committee had received another section of land situated at the corner of Martindales Road, Bridle Path Road, and Lee Street (Flavell Street). The contractor, Sylvester, laid the foundation for the memorial in December 1924.

The memorial was unveiled by Lieutenant Colonel Frank Symon at 10.15am on 25 April 1925. Described in the Press as "a simple gray marble column, surmounted on a concrete base...in memory of the 21 men from the Valley, who laid down their lives in the Great War for their King and country. Where the Bridle Path road crosses the top of the two forked streets, which lead from the railway station..."

Inscribed with To the memory of those who died in the Great War, 1914-1919 and on the side panels the following names: Anson. R.; Adamson. I.; Adamson. F. V.; Burnell. H.; Beazley. C.; Cogle. R.; Cogle. J.; Evans. W.; Harvey. J.; Illingworth. W.; Jackson. F.; Lowe. J.; Parker. W. E.; Rhind. E.; Rhind. H.; Reid. L.; Reed. S.; Weir. R.; Weir. K.; Wetherall. J. H.; Wetherall G.

Later a fourth panel was added in memory to those "who fell in World War II. 1939-1945":  Brooks. P. H.; Connolly. D. A.; Gemmel. L. W.; Hornung. W.; Lowe. H. S.; Read. W. A.; Wareing. R. P.

The memorial was damaged in the Christchurch earthquake of 22 February 2011. It was repaired by Mark Whyte.

References

Heathcote War Memorial, Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17466, 29 May 1922, p.11

General News, Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17815, 14 July 1923, p.12.

Heathcote County Council, Press, Volume LX, Issue 18201, 11 October 1924, p.10.

Heathcote News, Press, Volume LX, Issue 18257, 16 December 1924, p.16.

Anzac Day, Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18366, 27 April 1925, p.14.