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War Memorials WWI and WWII in Taranaki
This Kete records the war memorials in Taranaki associated with both World War I and II. Most of them were initially funded and erected by local communities following the 1914-18 war. At the end of the 1939-45 war additions detailing the service of local servicemen and women were added to the memorials and, even later, acknowledgement of the conflicts in Korea, Malaya and Vietnam were sometimes added in the form of small bronze plaques.
One of the most unusual of memorials is Stratford's Hall of Remembrance where individual portraits of the fallen of both major wars line the entrance to the former municipal offices.
Following World War II the Government determined to fund much more practical memorials than the obelisks and statues of World War I. They therefore introduced a subsidy for the erection of community facilities like halls and school swimming baths.
A selection of public monuments to individuals are included here. There are, though, additions to many family tombstones in the region's cemeteries where families could mourn sons or relatives who were lost in overseas battlefields. A few are included here.
World War I and World War II
- Alton - obelisk at school (closed) now moved to hall grounds
- Ararata - cross at school (closed)
- Auroa - soldier statue at road junction
- Awakino - hall entrance gate
- Awatuna - obelisk at school (closed)
- Bell Block - 'Memory' statue in garden
- Bird Road - roadside plaque at school (closed)
- Cardiff - large obelisk at road junction
- Clifton Rugby Club - entrance gates to sportsfield
- Douglas - domain gates
- Dudley - obelisk at school (closed),
- Eltham - school gates
- Eltham - sports park
- Eltham - servicemens' cemetery gates
- Fitzroy School - school gates
- Frankley Road - roadside plaque on boulder
- Hawera - memorial arch on streetside
- Hawera - statue on streetside
- Hawera - memorial church hall
- Inglewood - soldier statue at street junction
- Kaimata - Peace Memorial Church
- Kaponga - gate at domain
- Lepperton - obelisk at road junction
- Manaia - band rotunda and obelisk in Octagon
- Manaia - Cross in servicemen's cemetery
- Mangorei - War Memorial Hall - plaque
- Manutahi - plaque at school baths (closed), now at cemetery
- Matapu - obelisk at school
- Meremere - obelisk at school (closed)
- Midhirst - school gates
- New Plymouth Boys' High School - school gates
- New Plymouth Cenotaph - at street junction
- New Plymouth Cross of Sacrifice - Te Henui Cemetery
- New Plymouth RSA - ANZAC Day crosses
- New Plymouth St Mary's Peace Hall - Vivian St
- New Plymouth - West End School - originally gates now pillars in quadrangle
- Normanby - school gate archway
- Okaiawa - soldier statue at Domain
- Omata - obelisk at roadside
- Okato - obelisk at school (closed)
- Opunake - obelisk in streetside park
- Otakeho - gates at school (closed)
- Patea - school (demolished) steps
- Patea - wall of plaques
- Pihama - obelisk at school (closed), moved to cemetery
- Pungarehu - school gates (closed) Plaque at Cape Boat Club
- Rahotu School - flagpole at school
- Rahotu - school gate archway
- Stratford Cross of Sacrifice - adjoining War Memorial Hall
- Stratford Hall of Remembrance - entrance to former Municipal Building
- Stratford Victoria Park - park entrance gates
- Strathmore, Makahu, Te Wera - soldier statue at roadside
- Tarata - Embroidered flag (now disintegrated)T
- Tarata - Oak tree & plaque
- Tariki - obelisk at school (closed), now at district hall
- Te Kiri - obelisk at school (closed)
- Tikorangi - memorial at cemetery
- Tikorangi School - gates
- Urenui -obelisk at school
- Uruti - church entrance gate
- Waitara Memorial Place - Cross of Sacrifice at WMH
- Waitara Servicemen's - obelisk at cemetery
- Waitara - War Memorial hall feature
- Waitotara - Domain gates
- Warea & Pungarehu - flag pole at Warea school - now at Cape Boat Club
- Waverley School - obelisk
- Waverley - clock tower
- Whangamomona / Kohuratahi - roadside obelisk
World War II Only
- Inglewood - flagmast at road junction
- Mokau - German navy mine at roadside
- New Plymouth Westown Primary School - bell tower
- New Plymouth Puke Ariki - etched glass feature
- New Plymouth Boys' High School - stained glass window
- Okaiawa School - plaque at school swimming baths - now at cemetery
- Ratapiko School - flag mast at school
- Ahititi School - memorial baths at school
- Dudley District - memorial baths at school - now on WWI memorial
- Huirangi School - plaque at swimming baths
- Eltham - Taumata Park Grandstand
- Ngutuwera - Waipapa Marae gateway
- Auroa - War Memorial at Hall
Individuals - World War I
(Apart from those listed below, there are also many individual servicemen's names included on family headstones in our cemeteries.)
- Malone - Memorial Gates, Stratford
Okey - Obelisks, Te Henui Cemetery - Paterson - Memorial Window, Tarata Church
- Meuli - Memorial Steps, Manaia Redoubt
- Williams - Obelisk, Okaiawa Cemetery
- Espiner - Memorial stone in Manaia Cemetery
- Paul - Memorial stone, Lepperton Cemetery
- Robbie - Memorial steps, Patea
- Gane - Memorial stone, Waihi Cemetery, Normanby
- Sole - Memorial stone, Te Henui Cemetery
Taranaki War Memorial Halls: From Fiona Jack, Living Halls
- Auroa
- Brixton
- Hawera and District
- Kapuni
- Manaia
- Mangorei
- Mokau
- New Plymouth
- Normanby
- Skinner Road
- Stratford
- Strathmore
- Waihi
- Waitara
- Waitoetoe
- Waitotara
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Further Reading:
- Living Halls: Fiona Jack, 2011
- Visit Fiona Jack's website here
-
More Taranaki War Memorials
Further Reading:
The Sorrow and the Pride. New Zealand War Memorials: Chris Maclean & Jock Phillips, 1990
