Rockingham War Memorial

{{Short description|War memorial in Rockingham, Western Australia}} {{Distinguish|Rockingham Naval Memorial Park}} {{Use Australian English |date=January 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox military memorial | name = Rockingham War Memorial | country = Australia | native_name = | native_name_lang = | body = | image = File:Rockingham War Memorial, view from the north-west, March 2020.jpg | caption = The Rockingham War Memorial | commemorates = [[World War I]]{{-}}[[World War II]]{{-}}[[Korean War]]{{-}}[[Vietnam War]] | use_dates =  | established = {{start date|2005|08|13}} | unveiled = | coordinates = {{coord|-32.276389|115.7322|display=inline,title}} | location = [[Rockingham, Western Australia|Rockingham]], [[Western Australia]] | nearest_town = | designer = | total_burials = | unknowns = | commemorated = | by_country = | by_war = | inscription = | embedded = | source = [http://monumentaustralia.org.au/display/61111-city-of-rockingham-war-memorial- monumentaustralia.org.au] }} The '''Rockingham War Memorial''' is a [[List of Australian military memorials|military memorial]] in the [[City of Rockingham]], [[Western Australia]], dedicated to what is now the [[Australian Defence Force]].<ref name="Memorial" >{{cite web |url=http://monumentaustralia.org.au/display/61111-city-of-rockingham-war-memorial- |title=Rockingham War Memorial |author= |date= |website=monumentaustralia.org.au |publisher= |access-date=1 April 2020 |quote=}}</ref>

==Memorial== [[File:Rockingham War Memorial, August 2019 03.jpg|thumb|150px|left|Bronze soldier at the memorial]] The monument was dedicated on 13 August 2005 by [[Mark McGowan]], then Western Australian Minister for Tourism, Racing and Gaming, Barry Sammels, Mayor of the City of Rockingham, and Mark Stevens, President of the City of Rockingham RSL Sub-Branch.<ref name="Memorial" /> The dedication took place two days before the 60th anniversary of [[Victory over Japan Day]].<ref name="Stevens" >{{cite web |url=http://www.ausemade.com.au/war-memorial/wa/rockingham/wm-wa-rockingham.htm|title=Rockingham War Memorial|author=Mark Stevens (President City of Rockingham RSL)|date= |website=ausemade.com.au |publisher= |access-date=1 April 2020 |quote=}}</ref>

The centre piece of the war memorial was originally located on the opposite side of Flinders Lane but relocated to its current location in 2007, when the area was redeveloped.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au/Public/Inventory/Details/70becd99-71c9-4feb-83c4-af78a522a149|title=Flinder's Hall and Rose Garden (fmr)|author= |date= |website=inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au |publisher=Heritage Council of Western Australia |access-date=1 April 2020 |quote=}}</ref>

The memorials main feature are its fourteen classical styled columns, one for each major conflict Australia participated in. The {{convert|5.5|m|ft|adj=mid|-tall}} columns are arranged in a circle of a diameter of {{convert|30|m}}. A fourteenth column socket has been left empty to commemorate Australian soldiers missing in action. The three branches of the Australian Defence Force, Army, Air Force and Navy, are represented by a [[Ordnance QF 25-pounder|QF 25-pounder field gun]], a propeller and an anchor. The entrance to the memorial is guarded by two bronze soldiers, created by Perth sculptor Andrew Kay. Each weighs {{convert|160|kg}} and is twice the size of a human.<ref name="Stevens" />

In 2015, a memorial was added to commemorate the centenary of World War One. It displays a Roll of Honour with sixteen names listed of those from the district who served during the war.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://monumentaustralia.org.au/display/111627-centenary-of-world-war-one |title=Centenary of World War One |author= |date= |website=monumentaustralia.org.au |publisher= |access-date=1 April 2020 |quote=}}</ref>

Apart from the Rockingham War Memorial, two other major war memorials exist in Rockingham, the [[Rockingham Naval Memorial Park]], dedicated to the [[Royal Australian Navy]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/conflict/multiple/display/61109-naval-memorial-park/ |title=Naval Memorial Park |author= |date= |website=monumentaustralia.org.au |publisher= |access-date=18 March 2020 |quote=}}</ref> and the Z Special Unit Memorial, in honour of the [[Z Special Unit]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://monumentaustralia.org.au/display/61115-z-special-unit-memorial |title=Z Special Unit Memorial |author= |date= |website=monumentaustralia.org.au |publisher= |access-date=1 April 2020 |quote=}}</ref>

==References== {{Commons category|Rockingham War Memorial}} {{Reflist}}

[[Category:Rockingham, Western Australia|War Memorial]] [[Category:Military memorials in Western Australia]] [[Category:2005 establishments in Australia]]