Colo War Memorial, Moran’s Rock Reserve, First and Second World War Honor Rolls
In 2024 the Windsor and District RSL sub-Branch was awarded a Community War Memorials Fund (CWMF) grant to support the conservation of two honour rolls at the historic Colo War Memorial, Moran’s Rock Reserve, dedicated to those from the local community who served in the First and Second World Wars.
The unique war memorial consists of two engraved marble tablets with lead inlaid inscriptions for both the First World War and Second World War. Both tablets are attached to a sandstone rockface at Moran’s Rock Reserve, in the Colo valley.
Image: Colo War Memorial, Moran’s Rock Reserve (left), First World War Honor Roll (top right), and Second World War Honor Roll (bottom right).
Unveiled by Mr Ernest Shoebridge Carr, MLA on 15 October 1921 during an annual picnic day held at the reserve, the marble tablet commemorating the Great War and its inscription were the craftsmanship of Thomas Brown Ltd, of Singleton. The inspiration, funding and organisation of the memorial was the work of the residents of Upper Colo.
The Hawkesbury District newspaper (Windsor and Richmond Gazette, 21 Oct 1921) published a front-page report on the unveiling, referring to the memorial as “The Rock of Ages”.
Image: Excerpt from the front-page report published in the Windsor and Richmond Gazette, 21 Oct 1921, p1.
Among those commemorated on the Great War honour roll are brothers Joseph Jonathan “Jack” Gosper and Clarence Raymond Rudolph Gosper who enlisted on the same day in March 1916. The brothers were given consecutive regimental service numbers in the 13th Infantry Battalion and the rank of Private. The sons of Jonathan and Mary Elizabeth Gosper, of Upper Colo, New South Wales, they were both farmers at the time of enlistment.
Clarence and Jack arrived in England on 17 October 1916, where shortly after landing they both contracted mumps. On recovery they were sent separately to France where Clarence was transferred to the 19th Battalion.
Jack was badly wounded at Bullecourt on 11 April 1917, suffering gunshot wounds to the thigh and shoulder. He was treated in Rouen and rejoined his unit on 26 June 1917. Clarence also served at Bullecourt where he was reported as missing in action on 3 May 1917, aged 27. His death was later confirmed by a Court of Enquiry held in February 1918.
Jack Gosper was promoted to Corporal during early 1918 and at age 35 was killed in action on 9 August 1918 towards the end of the Battle of Hamel. He and his brother Clarence have no known graves.
Image: Windsor and Richmond Gazette, 20 Sept 1918, p2.
By 2024 the memorial had become covered in dirt and algae, with the lead letters in the inscriptions loose or missing. The First World War tablet still contained intact lettering, however required a heritage clean. The marble tablet commemorating the Second World War was in a greater state of disrepair and required cleaning, with much of the lead lettering in the inscription having fallen out.
Windsor RSL sub-Branch was successful in receiving a CWMF grant of $6,700 in September 2024 to contribute to the cost of the project. The sub-Branch engaged Monumental Stonemasons Menucha Monuments to undertake the physical works in November 2024. The scope of works included hand-cleaning of both memorial tablets using heritage appropriate methods and products, the application of long-term gentle biocide to remove live algae and discolouration, and the re-tapping or replacement of lead lettering matching materials used on the original memorials.
Due to the fragility of the First World War memorial, which showed some signs of cracking, it was too risky to remove for conservation work and was left in situ with all work conducted by the conservation team on site. The memorial was hand cleaned and where necessary the original lead lettering was re-tapped.
Image: First World War Honor Roll during biocide treatment (photo courtesy of Menucha Monuments)
The team faced the challenging task of having to remove the Second World War tablet to their workshop to conduct the conservation work. The restoration of the tablet involved gentle cleaning of the marble, cleaning out and restoring all the lettering with new lead characters (approximately 265 characters including the header and banner), re-drilling every character, applying biocide and the delicate reinstallation of the honour roll to the sandstone rockface of the Colo War Memorial.
Image: Before and after conservation (photos courtesy Menucha Monuments). First World War Honor Roll (left) and Second World War Honor Roll (right).
Mr Colin Richards, Vice President, Windsor and District RSL sub-Branch, was pleased with the outcome saying:
“The Community War Memorials Fund grant enabled the Windsor and District RSL sub-Branch to arrange heritage cleaning and restoration of the plaques that had fallen into disrepair over many years.
The Windsor and District sub-Branch appreciates the allocation of the grant. It adds to our purpose and legacy to never forget those brave men and women whose names are etched in the marble. For the first time in a long time, we can clearly read the names of those veterans who served in the Second World War. Both the First and Second World War plaques are now clean and preserved for the benefit of local families and community members to remember, with thanks to the NSW Government for the funding.”
For over 100 years the First World War Honor Roll has been in place on the rockface, and the memorial has remained a valuable part of the Colo community's commemorative events honouring the service of its veterans, including Anzac Day services.
The Community War Memorials Fund provides grants of up to $15,000 to support the repair, protection and conservation of community war memorials across the state, including specialist heritage advice and physical work.
For more information and to apply, click here.