Yea St. Luke's Anglican Church Private Victor Wakley Memorial Plaque

Details

Location St. Luke's Anglican Church, Pelissier & Lyons Streets, Yea, Murrindindi - Victoria, Australia
Type plaque
Description

Metal Plaque with brass plates

On the visit of the Duke of York to Australia, Colonel Tom Price who was commanding the Victorian Mounted Rifles, took occasion to suggest that there should be tablets erected in the various churches throughout the State in memory of the soldiers who had lost their lives during the South African War. The matter was taken up with enthusiasm, all the officers, non-commissioned officers and men willingly subscribing to the movement, with the result that there were soon ample funds to carry out Colonel Price's suggestion. In common with many districts we have to mourn the loss of young men who died during the war. One of them, Private Wakley, was the eldest son of Mr V. Wakley, of Kobyboyn. He went over to South Africa with the first Victorian contingent, and was struck down with enteric fever from which died on May 31st 1900.

The tablets to the memory of the soldiers have been ready for some time and it was decided that Colonel Price, the old commanding officer of the V.M.R. should be asked to unveil the memorials, which he readily consented to do, and Sunday last was fixed upon as the day on which the ceremony should take place. The memorials were placed in position on the western wall of St. Luke's Church of England, and in preparation for the ceremony it was so arranged that the Union Jack, with which they were covered, could be drawn aside by pulling a cord on the opposite side of the church near the chancel. As the Union Jack fell from the tablets the Dead March was played on the organ by Miss Daley, the large congregation meanwhile standing in the deep silence.

On the tablet in bold relief are the words "The tribute of the officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of the Victorian Mounted Rifles to the memory of Private V. O. Wakley, Kobyboyn,who died at Kroonstadt, South Africa, May 31st, 1900."
Yea Chronicle, 1st December 1904.

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Built Not yet discovered
Opened 27 November 1904
Inscription

THE TRIBUTE OF THE OFFICERS
THE VICTORIA MOUNTED RIFLES
NON COMMISSIONED OFFICERS & MEN
TO THE MEMORY OF
PRIVATE V.W. WAKLEY, KOBYBOYN
WHO DIED AT
KROONSTADT, SOUTH AFRICA 31ST MAY 1900

Condition

Good

Names

Showing 1 person of interest from memorial

WAKLEY, Victor Oak

Service number 186
Private
2nd Victorian Mounted Rifles
Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents
Born 1880

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