This is the South African War Memorial in Oamaru, NZ. In 2008 the memorial was dismantled, shifted 40 metres south and turned around 180 degrees to face north as part of a major road realignment to improve traffic safety.
The South African War Memorial (or 'Boer War', to most locals) was orginally unveiled in Thames Street, Oamaru, by Governor Lord Plunket on 2 February 1905. Many young North Otago men had volunteered to fight for the Empire, and Oamaru had shipped thousands of tonnes of grain to the Cape to sustain the imperial army's horses.
Local solicitor, climber and explorer, William G. Grave, raised most of the 1,700 pounds needed to build the memorial by cycling around North Otago, extracting donations from virtually every household and claiming just five shillings for expenses. 'Trooper Jack', the soldier atop the monument, is based on North Otago man David Mickle Jack, and was carved by the Italian sculpter Carlo Bergamini. The foundation is concrete, the base is Port Chalmers bluestone, and the rest is granite and marble sourced from Europe.
This is so pretty with the wash of colour and interesting story too Maggie - and by the way my better half still has his "Plunket"book - any connect to the Governor?
Wow! Wow! Wow! This is a perfect example of one of the things I love about the 365 community - sharing little little nuggets of local information. Thanks, Maggie. I had no idea there was a SA War Memorial in NZ.
A fact often forgotten that during the worlds wars so many brave men from NZ gave their lives. A fitting tribute & well loved by the look of the beautiful flowers.
@cimes1 Thanks Carole for your compliment! Its only half the monument and I did take a photo and post it of the whole but its a bit late now to post that connection
