The Soldier's Memorial
Some have
called the soldiers murderers but remeber the soldiers were doing
the duty they were called upon to do. These men paid the ultimate
sacrifice. For this alone they should be honoured
- The memorial consists of
the obelisk and two headstones - the nearest
headstone to the obelisk,
- remembers the 40th while the
farthest away remembers the fallen of the 12th Regiment.
- The
Obelisk was erected by the State of Victoria in
1879, and bears the inscriptions -
- In this place with other soldiers
and civilians of the military camp then in Ballaarat were
buried the remains
- of the British soldiers Henry
Christopher Wise Captain, Michael Roney and Joseph Wall,
Privates of the 40th Regiment and William Webb, Felix
Boyle and John Hall, Privates of the 12th Regiment who
fell dead or fatally wounded at the Eureka Stockade in
brave devotion to duty on Sunday, 3rd December 1854
whilst attacking a band of aggrieved diggers in arms
against what they regarded as a tyrannous administration.
- Not far west from this spot lie
the remains of some of the diggers who fell in their
courageous but
- misdirected endeavour to secure
the freedom which soon afterwards came in the form of
manhood suffrage and constitutional government.
- The headstone to the
40th Regiment reads -
- Sacred to the memory of Captain
Henry Christopher Wise of Her Majesty's 40th
Regiment of Foot who died on the 21st Dec 1854, aged 26
years, of wounds received while in the execution of his
duty on the morning of the 3rd of the same month. Tho the
memory of Privates Michael Roney and Joseph Wall of the
40th Regiment who gallantly fighting were killed on the
same day.
- The headstone to
the 12th Regiment reads -
- To the memory of Captain G.R.
Littlehales 12th Regiment who died February 12th 1855
aged 29 years and 9 months also of Privates William Webb
and Felix Boyle who died from the affects of gunshot
wounds received in discharge of duty on the 3rd December
1854 also of Private John Hall who died December 31st
1854.
-
- Please note that
Captain Littlehales did not participate in Eureka but his
memorial has been combined with those soldiers of the
12th who died at Eureka.
- Records at the Mitchell Library,
Sydney,Australia.
- © Copyright B & M Chapman
(QLD) Australia
- Last revised: December 25, 2004.