Kirup War Memorial, Kirup RSL Park

Statement of Significance

Kirup War Memorial was built to honour those residents of the town and surrounds who served in the two World Wars in 1914-18 and in 1939-45, and who died in service. Kirup War Memorial has aesthetic value for its form and materials and is located in an attractive garden sited at a prominent junction in the main road of the town. It is highly valued by the local community, many of whom are related to those commemorated. It illustrates the enormous human sacrifice made by the small regional communities and commemorates the renowned fighting spirit of the Anzacs.

Physical Description

Kirup War Memorial is a white painted brick obelisk located in RSL Park, Kirup close to the South Western Highway on the corner of Upper Capel Road. On the south side and front (east) face are two white marble plaques with the names of about 70 soldiers who died in World War 1. About 45 names of servicemen and women from World War 2 are listed on a plaque on the north face.

History

In 1918, as World War I (1914-18) came to an end many people in the Kirup district wanted to erect a memorial to those from the district who had served in the war and the Kirup Roll of Honour Committee was formed. A prominent site was selected for the proposed memorial and Balingup Road Board granted permission to the Committee ‘to erect an obelisk at the angle formed by the main and Upper Capel roads, subject to the exact situation being fixed by the Board’ (Bunbury Herald and Blackwood Express 7 Dec. 1918). Fundraising in the local community enabled the memorial to be completed in 1920. On 11 July, more than 200 people attended the unveiling ceremony. Rev. Attwell, of Donnybrook, conducted a short religious service, and Sergeant A. A. Wilson, M.L.A., unveiled ‘the local roll of honour - a beautifully proportioned obelsik in brick and marble’ (Western Mail 22 July 1920). Mr. W. Scott, chairman of the Honour Roll Committee, gave a resume of its work, noting Mrs. G. Mykes, two of whose sons had died in the war, had laid the foundation stone for the memorial. On behalf of the Committee, secretary, R. J. Elliott thanked James Kelly, manager of East Kirup Mill, for donating the timber for fencing the memorial and the residents of Mullalyup, Balingup and surrounding districts for financial assistance. Marble plaques on the memorial recorded names of 68 men from the Kirup district who served in the war, including two recipients of the Military Medal (M.M.), D. W. Murphy and T. Price, and 11 men killed in action. An early photograph shows W. Scott and W. Wringe standing beside the War Memorial, which was later painted white (date unknown). From 1921, Kirup War Memorial was the venue for local ANZAC Day services. Following World War II (1939-45), a new marble plaque was added to it bearing the names of 45 local citizens who served in this war, including six killed in action, and a 25 pounder field gun (1941) was placed nearby.

Integrity/Authenticity

High

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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