Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

UNVEILING THE ANNING MEMORIAL.
A HEMMANT CEREMONIAL.
(From Our Own Correspondent.)
The little township of Hemmant, near Wynnum, was a centre of attraction on Saturday afternoon, on the occasion of the unveiling of the Anning memorial. Delightful weather favoured the proceedings,  and among those present at the ceremonial were : 
The Hon. D. H. Dalrymple (Minster for Agriculture), Mr. P. McDermott (Under Secretary), the Military Commandant (Colonel Price), and Mrs. Price, Hon. F. T. Brentnall, Messrs. W. H. Barnes and J. McMaster, M.M.L A., Mesdames Barnes and M'Master, Mr. J. S. Bennett, Mr. and Mrs. R. J. Scott, and the chairman and members of the Balmoral Divisional Board. The Wynnum Brass Band also attended in uniform. Mr. R. J. Scott, by whom the arrangements wore super-intended, read several letters and telegrams from officers and others, regretting inability to be present. Mr. Barnes followed, and
apologised for the absence of the Premier (Hon. R Philp), the Hon. T. B. Cribb, and Messrs. E. H. Macartney and A J. Lamont, M.M.L.A. He wished to say that there was one thing the district was proud of-though but a small community-that their young men were so loyal and strong as to volunteer for service for their country in proportionately larger numbers than more populous centres, and the parents were so patriotic as to be willing to, risk the sacrifice on the battlefield of those they loved best. (Loud applause.) He then called upon Colonel Price to unveil the memorial. Colonel Price said he stood there with mixed feelings-feelings of sorrow which every soldier must have for a soldier who is dead, sympathy with relatives in their bereavement, admiration at the nature of the death, and feelings ot gratitude to those who had so honoured him.

He was one of fifteen lads who had gone from that district, and the fact that he was one of a small patrol of seven, of whom two were wounded, and live horses shot showed that the fight was no childish one. He died like an Australian on the 6th August, 1901, and it was to their credit that they had erected the magnificent monument. At school, he was told, their comrade was always a great favourite, ever a hard worker and a good lad, and in the field he was just the same. He had earned His rank of acting corporal. They had all to die, no matter where and when, and he could not conceive any more honourable death than on the battlefield fighting for one's country. It was a death he (the Colonel) would be proud of himself. The erection of these obelisks were honours which had passed from ages to ages, which had their expression in the pyramids down to the humble cross, and to conform-to that custom was part of their duty to-day. In the future young men of the district would on that stone read how a gallant youth had given up his life for his country, and would tuke heart and follow the glorious example in time of need. He was extremely pleased to be there with Mrs. Price that day, to do honour to a gallant dead comrade. At this point the Colonel withdrew the flag which encircled the memorial, and little Miss Millicent Scott placed a handsome wreath at the base, and the ceremony was
rendered the moro impressive by the company uncovering heads while the band played a verse of " Rule Britannia." The Hon. D. H. Dalrymple, introduced by Mr. Barries, said he had not come there to
make a speech, but to represent the Ministry cf Queensland, and, in a way, the Commonwealth of Australia. Ministers had a right to take an interest in the fate of every humble soldier. John Anning had passed from life, and they had erected a memorial to him that was to his and their honour. Those who respected noble deeds could be expected to perform noble deeds. It would be a bad time for their country when those who died for it were no longer thus honoured, and examples of gallant deeds were forgotten. John Anning lay under the rude veldt, but his soul was with us, and it was his bravery that they honoured. It would be superfluous to talk on this occasion of the sympathy of the Premier, who sent his own son to South Africa to encounter the same risks, but with more fortune to himself. (Hear, hear, and applause)
Mr. McMaster said, though he was not exactly a Queenslander, he had been here before it was called Queensland, and nothing in all his forty-eight years of colonial life had given him so much pride as the service of "our boys" in South Africa, (Loud applause.) They had proved themselves to be men whom their fathers or forefathers need not be ashamed of. They had raised an honoured name for Australia that would never he forgotten. Votes of thanks to the visitors, and the reading of a letter from 'Major Toll, dated Modder River, 1901, complimentary to the deceased, brought the proceedings to a close. The visitors were then entertained to some refreshments in an adjoining tent by Mr. Scott, and the large number of residents and visitors lingered listening to the music supplied by the band.
THE MONUMENT.
The monument, which is of Helidon free-stone, inlaid with marble, the work of Mr. Busby, of Toowong, has a column tapering to a height of I8ft., and is surmounted with a well-chiselled pall. Above the entablature are the lines :
He died the death of those
Who for their countiy die :
Sink on her bosom so repose
And triumph where they lie.
The lettering is as follows :-" In memory of Lance-corporal John Harry Anning, of the Fifth Queensland Imperial Bushnmen, killed in action at Kopjes Fontein, 6th August, 1901.Born at Morningside, 15th November, 1882. Erected by his friends and comrades." Below the inscription , is a stone projection, on which is a well-cut representation of the bushmen's cap and bandolier. The monument stands on a prominent position, at the junction of Lytton and Tingalpa roads.