Bene Meritus Domi Militiaeque. This inscription on the front of the University Cenotaph Obelisk speaks volumes. We are standing before a monument of remembrance. It honors those from the University of Melbourne who served in both World Wars. The University Cenotaph Obelisk stands near Wilson Hall. Its location is on Grattan Street.
Originally, the University Cenotaph Obelisk was built to commemorate World War One. The monument is made of Stawell stone. It was unveiled by Sir John Monash on April 24 1926. Monash was a significant figure. He was a General. He had also graduated from the University of Melbourne in 1887.
Initially, the University Cenotaph Obelisk stood at the head of the main drive. In 1972, it was relocated. Now, it stands near the Law School. This relocation reflects the changing landscape of the university.
The University’s commitment to remembering its war dead goes beyond this monument. After World War I, Australia sought to commemorate its war dead. The University’s war records are still being updated. New names of those who served and died are still coming to light.
In 1926, the University produced the Record of Active Service. It detailed teachers, graduates, undergraduates, officers, and servants in the European War. The Record listed 253 staff, students, and graduates who died in the war. It also listed 1725 who returned. However, research has found this list incomplete. Another 156 individuals were not included in the original war memorial book. This brought the total to 1882 who returned and 2135 who served.
The University’s memorials were both physical and abstract. The University Cenotaph Obelisk is a physical memorial. Scholarships were also created. These were often named for a lost son. In 1920 students published a commemorative issue of Melbourne University Magazine. It was edited by the historian Keith Hancock.
The Record was edited by H.W. Barney Allen. He was a classics lecturer at Ormond College. Allen faced the daunting task of tracing military records. He limited the scope to make the task manageable. He included only those who had embarked for service overseas. He also included those who died, such as Arthur Rothera. Rothera was a lecturer in biochemistry. He died of meningitis at the Maribyrnong camp in 1915.
Allen only included those who came to the University before the war. He excluded women. Many women had served as nurses or volunteered as doctors. New research aims to rectify these omissions. It includes the names of several women. It also includes those who enlisted but never left Australia.
The largest group of new names are those who came to the University after demobilization. These names were identified by cross-referencing records. Among the new names are individuals who rose to prominence. They include Sir Thomas MacFarland Cherry. He became Professor of Mathematics at Melbourne in 1929. There were also the brothers Sir Alexander Fitzgerald and Garrett Ernest Fitzgerald. They both lectured in Accounting at the University. Sir Albert Coates pursued his interest in Medicine through repatriation benefits. He became a prominent surgeon and University lecturer. Vera Scantlebury Brown graduated from Medicine. She served in London Military Hospitals and worked in public health.
The University Cenotaph Obelisk bears inscriptions on all four sides. “De Patria” is inscribed on the left side. “De Academia” is on the back. “De Imperio” appears on the right side. These inscriptions offer insight into the values and context of the time.
The University Cenotaph Obelisk stands as a testament to sacrifice. It reminds us of the ongoing effort to remember and honor all who served. It is a place for reflection. It encourages us to consider the impact of war.