The Military Memorial at Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park
by Geoffrey Ball Three Australian Victoria Cross winners of the First World War, all born in New South Wales, are memorialised in the Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park (Old Botany Cemetery), Matraville, Sydney. Private Thomas James Bede Kenny , died on 17 April 1953, whose burial grave is in the Roman Catholic section of the Park. Lieutenant Joseph Maxwell , died on 16 July 1976, whose ashes are in Wall G of the Eastern Walls Drive (Remembrance Wall). Major Blair Anderson Wark , died on 5 July 1941, whose ashes are in the Columbarium. The Park’s Military Memorial was officially opened on 29 July 2016, significantly on the centenary anniversary of the Battle of Pozieres, by the Chief of Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin AC. On that day 100 years ago, Australian soldiers of 2nd Division AIF were ordered to take Pozieres heights. The attack commenced at 12:15 am but the Germans were ready, and the attack failed at a cost of 3,500 Australian casualties. In less than sev...