The Foresters Lodge Memorial
RSL (Port Pirie Sub Branch) Inc.¹Foresters Lodge Court Pirie so honoured its members who gave their lives for their country that they erected a memorial in the park at a cost of more than £140.
The Ancient Order of Foresters originated in England in the mid 1700's and was set up as a non-profit organisation, the founding principles of the Society being to provide financial and social benefits as well as support to members and their families in times of unemployment, sickness, death, disability and old age.
A branch (Court) was established in Port Pirie, South Australia in 1874. The Court Pirie 5270 Ancient Order of Foresters played a particularly strong role in supporting members and their families during wartime and during the depression. In 1934 The Court Pirie Order had about 400 adult and 80 juvenile members. It owned £ 7,000 in mortgages in Port Pirie.
Trooper Albert Edward Charles Marshall Regimental No.535 was the first Port Pirie soldier to make the supreme sacrifice; he was killed in action on the 6th June 1901 near Reitz; South Africa. He joined E Company (Port Pirie) Infantry at the time of its formation, but in South Africa was attached to the Mounted Rifles (later Light Horse).
The mounted corps to which he belonged was reported by Lord Kitchener to have "behaved with great gallantry."
²The Foresters Lodge Memorial to perpetuate the memory of its fallen members was unveiled by Mrs. Brett wife of Mr. A. E. Brett (Secretary of the Ancient Order of Foresters) and handed over to council on Sunday November 18, 1923. The concrete structure comprised of a stepped broken obelisk surmounted on a capped pedestal and a four-tier base and concrete slab. Engraved names were in-laid with lead lettering. The monument was not quite completed as intended, it having previously been proposed to erect a water fountain.
Fathers and mothers of soldiers, had been seen to bow their heads when passing the Foresters Lodge Monument. In silent appeal the face of the stone tells the world of those who fell.
Sources:
¹Recorder, Port Pirie, SA Wednesday 19 July 1933
²Recorder, Port Pirie, SA Friday 23 November 1923
- Trove Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article124969455
