War Memorial ParkPrint Page

The land was purchased by a group of local farmers, John Jasper Porter, Alwyn Elliot Cornish, Vivian Arnold Lee, Lionel Gilbert Sandercock and Colin Sandercock in 1951 for 50 pounds with an intention for it to be recognised as a war memorial park to commemorate returned soldiers.

 

The local community planted a grove of trees on the land, and it is believed that a tree was planted for each serviceman from the Kenton Valley area who diedn in service or was killed in action. A wooden plaque was attached to each tree with the name of the serviceman.

 

In October 1953, memorial gates were installed.  The Kenton Valley Welfare Association managed the site and then subsequently by the Kenton Valley Ladies’ Group. The arch over the gates was removed from the site by persons unknown.

 

In 2019, a government proposal was given to the Kenton Valley community to revoke the community land status of the park.