Thursday, 24 April 2014

Martin Place, The Cenotaph

The Cenotaph is a war memorial located in Martin Place, in front of the General Post Office (GPO), between George Street and Pitt Street. The word 'cenotaph' means empty tomb, a sepulchral monument in honour of a person whose body is elsewhere. It was unveiled on Anzac Day, 25th April 1929. The model for the soldier facing east was Private William Piggot Darby. The model for the sailor facing west was Leading Seaman John William Varco. The inscription on the south side reads "To Our Glorious Dead" and on the north side reads "Lest We Forget" which is a line from "Recessional", a Rudyard Kipling poem. 

17 comments:

  1. There you go, always learning somthing new. Never knew that about Cenotaph

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  2. Since the Cenotaph was unveiled on Anzac Day, 25th April (1929), your timing could not be better. I will be going to a dawn service on Friday.

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  3. a great tribute.

    hope to see you tomorrow for good fences! :)

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  4. I guess I learned a new word today! That is a beautiful memorial.

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  5. Cenotaph is one of those words that I like and sound so nice coming out of the mouth.

    frankly my dear

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  6. A perfect precursor to ANZAC day tomorrow Jim.

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  7. Thank you for your photos, Jim. Always good to virtually revisit places I have known.
    The Cenotaph in Martin Place is one clearly remembered from my 'teens. Then a piper with the (now defunct) NSW Ladies' Highland Pipe Band, we used to slow march down Martin Place from the top end. This took place after the main Anzac Day march - it was part of a special Scottish memorial event. We played 'Flowers of the Forest' a beautiful lament. The quietness of the city at that time - around mid-day - coupled with the echoing sound of the Pipe Bands from the surrounding buildings, made a deeply moving experience. One which I have not forgotten for the nearly 60 years which followed.
    I wonder if that remembrance still takes place.

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  8. First time I have encountered the word 'cenotaph' and I subscribe to A Word A Day. No matter, your explanation of it will always be remembered now.

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  9. Beautiful shot. I find memorials like this sad, but it is good that we take the time to remember and honour these people.

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  10. It's beautiful. Thank you for the story too.

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  11. thanks for the photo and explanation of cenotaph

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