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Coo-ee March Memorial GatewayPrint Page Print this page

06-April-2019
06-April-2019

Photographs supplied by John Huth

The gateway commemorates the Coo-ee march of 1915. 

Following the disaster of Gallipoli and the heavy casualties in France in the latter half of 1915, recruiting figures for enlistment in World War One had dwindled. Numerous recruiting rallies became increasingly ineffective. It was at this dark hour that Gilgandra's butcher, R.G. Hitchen and his brother Bill, the local plumber, had the idea of organising a route march of volunteers to Sydney, enlisting recruits as they marched.

Twenty six men left Gilgandra on the 10th October 1915. They were feted at each town on the route, and the stirring story of their march has become part of the official war history of Australia. Recruitment meetings were held in each centre and their number increased to 263 by the time they reached Sydney on the 12th December 1915. 

Five men from Molong joined the march on the 22nd of October 1915

Location

Address:Edward Street, Recreation Ground, Molong, 2866
State:NSW
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -33.088721
Long: 148.867001
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
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Details

Monument Type:Gate
Monument Theme:Conflict
Sub-Theme:WW1
Actual Event Start Date:10-October-1915
Actual Event End Date:12-December-1915

Dedication

Actual Monument Dedication Date:Saturday 13th March, 2004
Front Inscription

Cooee March

1915

Left Side Inscription

The Molong men listed below joined the Coo-ee March at this ground 

22nd October 1915

Harold E Graham
John Martin
Patrick O`Loughlin
William C Walker
Thomas W Taylor

Unveiled by the Hon Charlie Lynn MLA

13th March 2004

Funded by Veterans` Affairs ` Saluting Their Service`  Molong community and Cabonne Council

Right Side Inscription

Coo-ee March Memorial Gateway

Officially opened by Councillor John Farr Mayor of Cabonne

Saturday 13th March 2004

Funded by Veterans` Affairs ` Saluting Their Service`  Molong Community and Cabonne Council

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