Ungarie District Roll of Honour Print Page

This board has been dedicated to those who gave their lives, and to those who came back," said Major L. W. Matthews, D.S.O., E.D., at Ungarie Memorial Hall. Major Matthews performed the unveiling ceremony of a beautifully finished Queensland maple Honor Roll. The roll contained the names of 136 men and women of Ungarie district, who were accepted for service in World War 11 and hangs in the hall, as a permanent reminder of that fact, the "Advocate" correspondent at Ungarie said in a special message today. Mr. A. G. McGregor, Chair-man of the Hall Committee, in introducing Major Matthews, apologised for the absence of Mr. T. Webb President of Ungarie Sub-branch of the RSS ALIA, who was to have performed the ceremony, but hadbeen been laid aside through illness.

The cost of procuring and installing the roll had been guaranteed jointly by the Ungarie Sub-branch and the Hall Committee," said Mr. McGregor. He appealed to the large audience present to assist by donations towards the cost of meeting the payment. Mr. J. W. Barron Secretary of the Ungarie Ex-Servicemen's League said he was pleased to be present to assist in the ceremony, and endorsed the remarks of Mr. McGregor inasfar as appealing for public support in liquidating the debt.

Major Matthews, who as Area Officer, stationed at Cootamundra during the enlistment period of World War II was warmly received when called on by the Chairman to perform the unveiling. "I am honored at being asked to undertake this service," said Major Matthews. "This roll contains the names of men and women who were privileged to serve their country in time of war. "In the early stages of the war a lot of men from this district were accepted for the 6th Division. "Later on when the examination was made more strict, there was no slackening off numerically and the list covered names of men and women, who served in practically all the war areas," Major Matthews said. His experience as Area officer proved also to him that on a population basis the country had much better figures than the cities. It was fitting that the roll would hang in a conspicuous place, where the public would have every opportunity to observe what had been done. Following the National Anthem, the roll was unveiled, the ceremony concluding with Mr Ron Williams sounding the last Post.
West Wyalong Advocate (NSW), 28 April 1949.