Beneath our feet lies history. The Double Bay War Memorial stands as a testament to courage, sacrifice, and community spirit. This is more than just a statue. It’s a story etched in bronze and stone.
The Double Bay War Memorial was dedicated on August 2, 1919. It is located in Steyne Park. The memorial commemorates the men and women of this district who served in World War One.
Look closely at the Bowral trachyte pillar. It features four Corinthian columns with bronze capitals. Atop this pillar stands the sculpted image of an Australian soldier. The statue carries the affectionate name ‘Big Red’. He is the quintessential infantry soldier. He is tough and determined. He is also vulnerable.
Notice the ragged bandage around his head. He is undaunted by this wound. His weight is on the balls of his feet. Both hands firmly grip his bayoneted rifle. He is mid-thrust in the heat of combat. Even the sculpture’s shell-torn base is complete with the remains of a German Pickelhaube helmet crushed under the soldier’s foot.
The names of 416 men and women are inscribed in gold on the pedestal. They volunteered for service. Sixty-four of these men were killed or died of wounds received in action. The names of five women who served as nurses are also recorded.
The original ‘Big Red’ from Double Bay is thought to be the first memorial sculpture in Australia. It was erected by a local community following the First World War. To the casual viewer, the statue is an illustration of the tenacity and toughness of Australian soldiers. It is a symbol of victory. It is a testament to communal grief.
Interestingly, the image of Big Red is not original. The sculpture is a reinterpretation of an illustration. It was drawn 20 years earlier. It was not for the First World War. It was for the Anglo Boer War. Australians fought in this war between 1900 and 1902. The illustration was titled “A Gentleman in Khaki”. It was created by Sir Richard Caton Woodville. He was the Late Victorian Era’s pre-eminent painter of battlefield scenes.
Unlike Big Red, the Gentleman in Khaki is standing taller. His rifle is cradled in one hand. He is feeding ammunition into the breach. While his head is also bandaged, the scene has less urgency than that of Big Red. While it still implies combat, there is less sense of close combat with the enemy.
Australian Historian Ken Inglis describes Double Bay’s war memorial as “the most belligerent of all the First World War memorials.” However, the figure of Big Red is far from a unilateral expression of militarism. Instead, it pays tribute to all the communities who have come together to support soldiers. They supported those leaving for war and those returning.
In 1989, Woollahra Council replaced the original statue with a bronze cast. The original was transferred to the Royal Infantry Museum in Singleton.
The Double Bay War Memorial is a perfect summary of war memorials. It is a sacred space to pay respect for the achievements of service men and women. It is a focal point for the communities who support them. Remember this site. Remember the stories it holds. Remember the spirit of Double Bay.