History of the Booyal Memorial Hall
Herb Oliver PSMThis is an account of the history of the War Memorial which was erected by a small group of volunteers who were WW1 returned soldiers from Booyal.
The monument is in the Booyal Memorial Hall, which I believe is one of the most unique in Australia.
This photograph was taken of Graham Coleman and Herb Oliver, cutting the anniversary cake in the Hall on the 10th November 2018, the 100th anniversary of the opening of the hall, which was officially opened on the 10th November 1918.
Graham Coleman (left), son of Wilfred Edward (Ted) Coleman, who served in WW1 in Egypt and the Western Front in France. Herb Oliver PSM's father served in WW1 in Egypt, Gallipoli, the Western front in France, and was wounded at Pozieres on the 29th July, 1916, He was also captured by the German Army and spent until early 1919 in prisoner of war camps in Germany.
Graham and Herb would have spent hours in the hall as students at the Booyal Central State School.
When the former Private George Oliver returned to Booyal, medically unfit, he became the Chairman of a small group of returned soldiers from Booyal, who raised funds and contributed physically to the erection of the memorial stage.
Ted Coleman was Mentioned in Despatches (MID) for bravery in WW1. One of his brothers, Thomas M Coleman was awarded a Military Medal (MM) and also a MID for bravery. A third brother, Harry Coleman, also served in WW1. All the Coleman brothers are listed on the Memorial Roll in the Hall.
There are thirty nine names on the Honour Board of soldiers from Booyal who served in WW1. The board is displayed on the left hand side of the stage. A marble plaque is displayed on the right hand side of the stage, and details the ten soldiers KIA in WW1 and three in WW2.
One soldier from Booyal, H N Neal, is listed on the Memorial roll and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM). W Neil shown on the list of volunteers from Booyal should have been W Neal. He was awarded a DCM for bravery. The two Mandersons were brothers and were killed in action in France.
Another volunteer who is also on the Honour Roll of soldiers killed in action is L/Cpl Fredrick S Salmoni.
At least three soldiers from Booyal served on Gallipoli, including two Bailey brothers and Private George Oliver of the 25th Battalion AIF. He was one of the last soldiers to be evacuated in December 1915. He died in February 1978.
The Booyal Memorial Hall has been operated and maintained by a volunteer group for over a hundred years.
