First World War Soldier's Memorial - Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Tony Boccia
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
Hello PHG fans, this week we're taking a trip to Australia to look at this lovely memorial just across from the Royal Botanical Garden on the south side of Sydney Harbor. My first and only visit to Sydney was in 2007, when I made port there aboard USS Kitty Hawk. Seeing the harbor bridge and opera house in person was a moment I'll never forget, and I cannot wait to get back to this beautiful, vibrant city again.
Australia sent over 416,000 men to fight in the First World War, out of a population of less than 5 million people. Over 60,000 were killed and 125,000 wounded from Rabaul to Gallipoli, and Kut to Flanders. This memorial, sponsored by the Centre for Soldiers' Wives and Mothers, was installed in 1921. It stands near the spot where soldiers passed through gates leading to the troops ships set to carry them to war. The Great War was a formative experience for Australia; a moment when a colony became a nation, built around the shared ideal of sacrifice and victory.
I'll be stopping by this monument at my earliest opportunity, and hopefully soon! I love Australia, and this bold marker is one of many hundreds in Sydney and thousands throughout the country that honor the lives lost across all of the conflicts that the proud Aussie people have fought in. If you've been to Sydney, seen this marker, or any like it, please let me know in the comments!
Happy exploring,
Tony