.png)
.png)
The Cenotaph
On Saturday the 18th of May 1918 a unique moment in our local history transpired. Under the watchful gaze of William A Foxwell (Chairman of the Coomera District Patriotic Committee) Sir Edward Henry Macartney MLA performed the ceremony to officially unveil this memorial in Upper Coomera cataloguing the names of our local fallen World War 1 diggers.
Our memorial is a life size digger standing with eyes down and arms and rifle reversed. The purpose of the rifle in reverse is to denote those that have fallen rather than those who enlisted — in contrast to other memorials.
The sandstone memorial stands proudly on granite blocks surrounded by a white wooden fence with white corner piers and was located at the entrance to the former Bonnie Brea property.
More than 100 years later this memorial is a testament to the craftsmanship of Andrew L Petrie and sons of Toowong, who had created over 30% of all Queensland memorials commemorating the First World War.
Three decades after the initial unveiling, the names of soldiers who fell in the Second World War were added following a resolution proposed by Mr W Bird — President of the Upper Coomera Sub Branch of the RSL and seconded by Mr C Lane.
Coomera Shire Chairman, Cr W F Oxenford unveiled these names on the 34th Anniversary of ANZAC Day
In November 2024, the Upper Coomera War Memorial was relocated to Tallowwood Park, where it underwent physical conservation and repair. This included reinstating the original stepped granite platforms and corner posts and replacing lost or damaged diecast lead lettering.
Today, under the custodianship of the Rotary Club of Coomera Valley this memorial continues to form an important part of the local community’s annual Anzac Day services and marches― it is also an important record and reminder of the local participation in and sacrifice of the Coomera district to Australia’s war effort.
Pilot Officer Joseph John Fletcher
Joseph John Fletcher was born in Jundah on the 25th of October 1916 to Mr Norman and Mrs Annie Fletcher. He had two younger Siblings, his brother Keith and Sister Merle. Joseph Fletcher was an avid tennis play and won multiple tennis championships, both in Junior and Mens contests. He worked as a banana grower in Upper Coomera before enlisting in in the Royal Australian Air Force on the 8th of November 1941. Joseph Fletcher married Grace Lane on Christmas Day 1941.
Private's Walter and Sidney Bignell
Many members of the local Bignell family served in the Second World War. However, only Walter (Wally) and his brother Sidney (Sid) were killed. Walter was deployed to North Africa and Sidney served in Malaysia and Singapore. Both brothers were local farmers. Walter was a notable cricketer (all-rounder), captain of the Guanaba Cricket Cub’s team and was active in Gold Coast sporting associations. Sidney was survived by his parents and his pet bull. A pair of trees were later planted at the then Maudsland State School in memory of the fallen brothers.
Private Gordon Benjamin Young
Gordon Young was born on the 3rd of February 1919 to Mr Hedley Gordon Young and Mrs Mabel Frances Young (nee Spray) as the eldest of their 4 children. His three younger siblings were, Harold, Marjorie and Frank. His father Hedley, was a veteran of the First World War who served in the 9th Australian Infantry Battalion at Gallipoli and Pozieres. He was Wounded in Action in both battles. It was after his second time Wounded in Action that Frank met Mabel in England before his return to Australia. Prior to his enlistment in the 49th Battalion, Australian Milita Force, Gordon lived in Coomera where he worked as a farm labourer.