Legerwood Memorial Carvings
The sacrifices of Legerwood
In 1914, many of the then unnamed town of Legerwood, husbands, fathers, sons and brothers bravely went to fight in World War 1. Unfortunately seven of these brave men would not return.
- Private Thomas Edward Edwards
- Private Alan Robert Andrews
- Private William Henry Hyde
- Lance Corporal John Charles Ernest Riseley
- Private Robert James Jenkins
- Private George Peddle
- Private John Henry Gregg McDougall
On the 15th of October in 1918, the families of these brave men planted nine trees. One in Memory of each man, one for Gallipoli and one for all the Anzacs.
But time takes it’s toll on man and on trees, and just over 80 years later, in 2001 the trees were declared a safety risk, and therefore the memorial that once stood so tall, seemed lost.
But the community did not want to see it lost, they held true to the saying “Lest we forget” and they fought to protect the memory. The Legerwood Hall and Reserves Committee hired Eddie Freeman to sculpt the tree trunks into masterpieces. Each of the tree trunks have a different image, seven in the likeness of the soldiers that they are in memory of, one for Gallipoli, a lone soldier leaving for war, and the Anzac tree.
The first tree completed was The Anzac Tree. The carving depicts an Anzac soldier, the Australian flags, an Anzac cross and the Battle of Lone Pine.
The memorial is in the Main Street of Legerwood, with a gently rolling parkland, picnic area and BBQs. Their is a gorgeous restored Train Carriage that is manned by friendly volunteers to buy souvenirs. A great place to remember to take time out to and remember the stories of the brave men represented in the carvings.
The War heroes of Legerwood, Dorset are now forever Immortalised, they forever stand tall.
The next time you are in the North East of Tasmania make sure you visit.
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Great post. Thanks for sharing the history!
Wow — what a creative way to memorialize these men! We were able to tour Flanders Fields a few months ago. It’s amazing how many soldiers were lost / missing — thousands. This town thought of a wonderful way to make sure these men will be remembered.
I love the back story! The artists really did a great job carving the art pieces. Thanks for sharing
What a moving post Thank you. I have always thought it was a terrible shame that many of the Anzacs who died in WWI were so young they did not have direct descendants. It is left to their indirect descendants to keep their memory alive. My husband’s great uncle was one of those who died and, as a result of a family feud, we didn’t even know he existed until my husband was researching something unrelated. We had visited Villers-Bretonneux, where he was buried, and didn’t know to look for his grave. I applaud Legerwood for remaining true to the phrase ‘Lest we Forget’.
Wow! What a wonderful compromised that was found when the trees were deemed a safety risk. They are beautiful and if I ever get to Tasmania I will be sure to visit.
Well done people of Legerwood. It is the true spirit of “lest we forget” and the carvings have likely encouraged more people to stop for a moment and appreciate the sacrifice these men made. A very moving post. Thanks for sharing.