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Upper Murray Garden of Memory
Council Online Search
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Upper Murray Garden of Memory This cemetery was commenced during World War Two and managed by the Australian War Graves Commission. After the cessation of fighting in 1945, the War Graves Commission handed over control to the local R S L Sub-Branches, from which delegates were elected to a committee to act as Trustees and to develop the cemetery as a War Memorial. It was to be a cemetery, a last resting place for any Australian Ex-Service man or woman who had served in war-time in a full-time capacity. Any British or Allied Ex-Service man or woman was also eligible to be buried in the cemetery if he or she met the same criteria. The Australian War Graves Commission surveyed eight sections in the cemetery. Each section was divided into four rows of sixteen grave plots. Thus each section contains 64 grave plots, making 512 plots in the original survey. An additional 28 plots were later surveyed between the two rear sections B and D. Burials are more or less divided into World War One (Sections E F G) and World Wart Two and later (Sections A B C D), but there are exceptions. This War plot honours the sacrifice of seven members of the Australian Imperial Force and one member of the Royal Australian Air Force who died during the Second World War. The Seven Australian Imperial Force Personnel served with the 25 th and 33 rd Garrison Battalions which were stationed at the Loveday Internment camps near Barmera from 1941 until 1946 Situated close to the entrance to the cemetery is the ceremonial flagpole, from which the Australian Flag may be flown. The Trustees make good use of the flag, flying it on official occasions such as Anzac Day, where it is flown for the Dawn Service and for the rest of the day as a tribute to fallen and departed brethren. The flag is also flown for every funeral service within the cemetery. The Concrete base of the flagpole contains three commemorative plaques place to honour three specific former Servicemen who have no known grave. These plaques, set facing toward the west and the setting sun read as follows:
SX11064 Pte H C B Morgan 8 th Div. Field Workshop Died 10 th April 1945 age 28 A58840 Cpl Glenn K Thomas R A A F Died 16 th April 1976 age 23 Life is Measured by Depth not Length SX11576 Driver G R Speake 4 Reserve Motor Transport Co. Died 15 th May 1945 aged 41 |
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