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Honour Rolls

Residents from The Hills Shire have responded to the call for volunteers to enlist in the Australian Armed Forces and serve their country during wartime. Newspaper reports during the First World War in the Windsor and Richmond Gazette 1914-1915 described genial farewells organised by residents in large sheds, schools and school of arts buildings decorated with balloons and banners. Local VIPs, Councillors and politicians made farewell speeches.

Gifts to the departing soldier often included knitted socks, balaclavas, and gloves; pocketknives, pipes, miniature Australian flags and inscribed watches and fountain pens. Entertainment, fundraising auctions and refreshments gave the impression of a carnival atmosphere. There was usually dancing and most functions finished with the song Auld Lang Syne.

Welcome home functions organised by local communities followed a similar format to farewells except that not all soldiers returned. Depending on the community, the soldier may have been presented with an inscribed wristwatch, fountain pen, medal, certificate from Baulkham Hills Shire Council and on some occasions a “nice fat cheque”.

No one could have predicted the tragic loss of young lives with 53,993 Australians killed during combat and thousands more dying from war related injuries. To ensure that their sacrifices would be remembered, local Honour Rolls began to appear attached to public and community buildings. Many a person has stood in front of such Honour Rolls and wondered about the stories behind them.

These are images of the Honour Rolls, Honour Boards and War Memorial Plaques commemorating those from that area who fought and died in war found in The Hills Shire and in those suburbs below the M2 previously part of The Hills Shire now part of City of Parramatta:

WWI Memorial Wall - Listing the names of the Masonic soldiers depicted in the glass memorial