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National Service MemorialPrint Page Print this page

01-June-2015
01-June-2015

Photographs supplied by Russell Byers / Howard Mitchell

The National Service Memorial Fountain commemorates those who served as national servicemen under the two schemes created under the National Service Act 1951 (1951 - 1959) and the National Service Act 1964 (1965 - 1972).

The memorial is dedicated to the 290,000 young men who were called up for National Service and honours the 212 National Servicemen who died in action. 210 servicemen died in Vietnam and 2 died in Borneo.

The memorial fountain features a  sandstone plinth (matching the colour of the Australian War Memorial itself) which symbolises the Army;  the reflection of the sky in the black polished granite represents the  Royal Australian Air Force and the water in the bronze bowl represents the  Royal Australian Navy. 

Location

Address:Fairbairn & Limestone Avenues, Eastern Precinct, Australian War Memorial, Campbell, 2612
State:ACT
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -35.281124
Long: 149.149104
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
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Details

Monument Type:Fountain
Monument Theme:Conflict
Sub-Theme:Multiple
Approx. Event Start Date:1951
Approx. Event End Date:1972
Designer:Richard Johnson (architect) , Johnson Pilton & Walker

Dedication

Actual Monument Dedication Date:Wednesday 8th September, 2010
Front Inscription

Dedicated to all Australian National Servicemen and in memory of all who died.

Plaque :

National Service Memorial

Officially unveiled by Her Excellency Quentin Bryce AC Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia
8 September 2010

Between 1951 and 1972, over 290,000 young men were called up for National Service.

Approximately 227,000 18-year-old Australian men underwent compulsory training in the Navy, Army and Air Force between 1951 and 1959, at a time of escalating international tension during the Cold War.

Almost 64,000 20-year-old men served in the Australian Army as National Servicemen between 1964 and 1972.  They served in Borneo, Vietnam, Malaysia, Papua New-Guinea and Australia, and constituted 40 per cent of those who died on active service.

This memorial was designed by Johnson Pilton & Walker.

 

Source: MA
Monument details supplied by Monument Australia - www.monumentaustralia.org.au