To clarify the situation with the proposed War Memorial at Ocean Beach Surf Life Saving Club. When I started my research about Umina four years ago, I found a death notice about a man who had been a member of the OB Surf Club, since then the following information has been uncovered. I found he joined the 1st AIF in August 1914, fought at Gallipoli and later Lone Pine. He received a wound that permanently paralysed the right side of his face while fighting at Lone Pine and after months in hospital he returned to Australia. In the 1920s he joined the Surf Club and was their second President, he belonged to the Woy Woy/Ettalong Sub Branch of the RSL and was their President in 1929 ( a fact the present members of the sub branch didnt know until I visited them and showed them my research.) James was also a member of the Woy Woy Shire Council until his health started to fail him. The Woy Woy /Ettalong Sub Branch wrote a letter of support, which was submitted with the application to the Federal Government for the grant. The gentlemen I met at the RSL Sub Branch were extremely happy that people, other then themselves were taking the time to commemorate fallen comrades. The grant is part of a Federal Government Grants Programme Saluting Their Service. The memorial will be dedicated to all Service Men and Women from Umina. It isnt in opposition to the Park at Woy Woy but to complement it. I have had many phone calls etc. from ex-servicemen (from Umina) expressing their support regarding the memorial at Umina.
Posted on: Tue, 30 Sep 2014 03:43:07 +0000