Shrine GuardPrint Page

The plaque commemorates the Shrine Guard who since 1935 have carried the responsibility of guarding the Shrine of Remembrance.

After the opening of the Shrine on 11 November 1934, the then Chief Commissioner of Police, Thomas Blamey appointed a select group of men to look after this site. From the 250 Victoria Police who applied, twelve highly decorated veterans of the First World War were selected for this honour. Lieutenant George Ingram, winner of the Victoria Cross, was the most highly decorated member and became the unofficial leader of the Shrine Guards.

Two Senior Constables were added to this contingent to become officers in charge.

The rule that Guards should be recruited from those who had seen active service was removed in 1970. In 1990 recruitment from the Victoria Police ceased and men were drawn from the Victoria Police Protective Services Unit, fully trained in military drill and equipped to become Shrine Guards. A significant and recent major change in 1995 saw the first appointment of a woman as a Shrine Guard.

The original Shrine Guards in 1935 were : -

Lindsay George Good, DCM, 8975
Robert Bruce Forsyth, MC, 8977
George Blyth, MM, 8979
Thomas Henry Griffiths, MC, 8981
Archibald Boadle, MM, 8983
Patrick Darcy Hayes, DCM, 8985
Albert Horace Bennett, MM, 8987
George Dickson Cooke, DCM, 8988
Henry Hatherell Jones, MC, 8976
Henry Thomas Gosbell, MM, 8978
Francis Douglas Burrell, DCM, MM, 8980
Simeon George Horsey, MM, 8982
Herbert Frank Parker, MM & Bar, 8984
Albert Horace Bennett, MM, 8987
George Mawby Ingram, VC, MM, 8987

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