Ceremony vital to renew memory of sacrifice

By Tim Howard

Re-dedicating the Grafton Cenotaph 100 years to the day after its original dedication plays a vital role in keeping alive the memory and ideals of those who made the supreme sacrifice in current and future generations.

The secretary of the Grafton RSL sub-Branch, Denis Benfield, said the service in Grafton’s Memorial Park on Saturday, immediately after the Remembrance Day service was an important event.

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Mr Benfield said the cenotaph deserved to maintain its place as a shrine to servicemen and women who gave their lives for their country.

“It’s a 100 years old and still has great significance for the community,” he said.

“You could see by the people that turned up here today it means a lot to them.

“Re-dedicating the cenotaph renews that spirit and builds up the significance for the young people.

“We have to keep young people involved so they can renew those ideals Into the future.”

Chaplain Kevin Booth of 41st Battalion consecrates a section of the Remembrance Walk in Memorial Park during the re-dedication of the Grafton Cenotaph on Saturday.

Mr Benfield said much of the credit for the planning of the re-dedication service should go to Clarence River Historical Society president Steve Tranter.

Mr Tranter said the society kept a record of anniversaries in the Clarence as they occurred and looked for ones of major significance.

“There were two that stood out this years,” he said. “The anniversary of the dedication of Grafton Cenotaph and the 80 anniversary of the Scouts who drowned in the Clarence River.

“I had discussions with the Mayor at the time, Ian Tiley, and we began to plan for this event and a service for the Scouts memorial in December.”

There were speeches from the dignitaries attending: Member for Clarence Richie Williamson, Member for Page Kevin Hogan, Clarence Valley Mayor Peter Johnstone, the CO 41st Battalion Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Healy, the grandson of Sir Earle Page, David Page and caption of Clarence Valley Anglican School Geoge Ryan.

A speech from Dr Honor Auchinleck, a descendant of General Sir Henry (Harry) Chauvel, who lived at Tabulam, was also read to the attendees.

Grafton RSL sub branch president Leith Basset and secretary Denis Benfield, with Clarence River Historical Society presidnet Steve Tranter after the ceremony to comemmorate the 100th anniversary of the Grafton Cenotaph.

In Cr Johnstone’s welcoming address he reminded his audience that councils 100 years ago moved no faster than today, pointing out that Mayor McFarlane first mooted the idea of a cenotaph in 1917, but little progress was made for five years.

Cr Johnstone also recalled former Mayor Shirley Adams, working with Grafton RSL sub-branch president Brian Bultitude, had been instrumental in building the Remembrance Walk in the park.

Mr Williamson said the service such as this reminded him that every day he “cashed a cheque written by people who went before me.”

“When the Anzacs hit the beach at Gallipoli it set the moral compass of our nation,” he said.

“It’s up to us now to keep our moral compass pointing in the right direction.”

Mr Hogan took people’s minds back to the scene on November 11, 1923 when the mothers of the 35 soldiers who gave their lives and whose names were etched onto the cenotaph dedicated the original monument.

He said there would have been tremendous grief among the people there because those men were sons, brothers, fathers, uncles and friends to most of the people there.

Grafton RSL sub branch member Graham Jackson, sub branch president Leith Bassett, secretary Denis Benfield with 41st Battalion CO Lt Col Daniel Healy, RSM Michael Dowling and Priv Graeme Bray.

“But there would also have been sense of pride in what those young men had achieved with their sacrifice,” he said.

Mr Hogan said the primary reason for re-dedicating this monument was to ensure those memories  were never lost.

Col Healy’s address recalled the life and career of Major Genera Arthur Samuel “Tubby” Allen, whose service to the army during both World Wars was legendary.

Mr Page paid tribute to his grand father, who volunteered as an army surgeon and served in England and in battlefield hospitals on the Western Front.

Mr Page said his grand father was particularly proud of his brother, Harold, who began the war as a private and finished it ranked as a major.

He was wounded three times and capture once by the Germans, but escaped.

Mr Page said his brother’s legacy was one fo the reasons Sir Earle was behind the cenotaph project.

He said Sir Earle Page returned after the war determined to get into politics and get to work on projects, like the Nymboida Hydro Electric Power Station.

“He became the Member for Cowper and did everything he could to clear the way for the cenotaph to go ahead,” he said.

Australia Army bugler Lance Corporal Chris Channing – a former local – plays Lhe Last Post during the re-dedication ceremony of the Grafton Cenotaph on Saturday.

After the speeches, the Bishop of Grafton the Rev Murray Harvey, Chaplain 41t Battalion Kevin Booth and Canon Camellia Flanagan dedicated the memorial, scattering Holy Water onto the monuments from sprigs of rosemary.

After the service 41st Battalion historian Private Graeme Bray revealed impatience at the delays in getting the cenotaph build led to some subversive action.

He said that after the Remembrance Day ceremony in 1920, some former soldiers had listened to all the fine speeches, then attended a lunch, where they may have had a few beers.

“The second in command of 41st battalion at the time, Major Ferguson was upset at the council not doing anything and made a speech that go everyone going,” Priv Bray said.

The men hauled a captured German artillery field gun from where it stood in Bacon St to the council chamber and aimed it at the front doors as a symbolic gesture.

“I don’t think it did much good,” Priv Bray said. “It took another three years before anything happened and ironically in that time, the ringleader of the protest, Major Ferguson died.

“So he never got to see the cenotaph finished.”

Mr Benfield said he was pleased with the success of this dedication, but said it would not be the last.

“We have the centenary of the South Grafton Cenotaph next year,” he said.

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