Opened & Unveiled by Sir Charles Rosenthal - A Handsome Pavilion
St Marys & District Historical Society IncSt Mary’s Part in the War - The Mayor (Alderman T W Brooker), in addressing the gathering said that it was by the Grace of God and the valour of those good fellows who left our shores that they were able to meet there that afternoon for the unveiling of that memorial. It needed no words of his to recall to their minds the events of the great struggle of 1914-18. The call was sounded that England needed assistance and it was answered well by the manhood of Australia. Among the number who answered the call were something like 120 from this district. When one considered that this was a small district, that record, he ventured to say, would hold good comparison with the record of any other district. Out of those who went from this district 22 paid the supreme sacrifice. They fought and fell that old England and the dominions might be free and that they might be left to work out their own destiny under the good old Union Jack. A word must be said for the mothers and wives and sisters who parted with these men. He was sure that they paid as big a penalty as did the boys themselves. Their gallantry and valour were not rewarded in any shape because one could not repay them. During the time in which the boys were away those relatives were spending sleepless nights, particularly when unfavourable reports were reaching us. They had parted with their boys hoping to see them again. He would not be stressing the feelings of this committee if he did not say that they were mindful that this memorial should be one that would stand for years to come. It was a message telling of the bravery and gallantry of those boys on behalf of the rising generation and other generations to come after them. This memorial had been erected at a cost of about 875 pounds. This amount had all come from the good people of St Marys, who had worked well and assisted the committee. Still the people did not want to take to themselves any credit in the matter because it was done to commemorate the great work of the boys who had gone away. The unveiling of this memorial could not have been put onto better shoulders than onto Major-General Sir Charles Rosenthal. Sir Charles was with the lads at the front and he saw what they did. The choice of him for this duty was most worthy in every respect.
- Nepean Times (Penrith, NSW : 1882 - 1962), Saturday 4 November 1922, page 2 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/104677430
