The New Plymouth Cenotaph is made of local andesite from a Mangorei quarry and was designed by New Plymouth architect Frank Messenger. It was closely based on Sir Edward Lutyen's Cenotaph in Whitehall, London. It was unveiled by the Governor-General, Lord Jellicoe, on 16 September 1924.
Public subscriptions were called for and lists of contributions published in the Taranaki Herald. Although there was some controversy over the siting of the cenotaph, eventually over £1800 was subscribed. The monument was built by Messrs J.G. M. Russell, J. M. McCracken and A. Handley and the marble wreaths were made by local monumental mason, W F Short. The symbolically empty casket is on the top of the structure.
Inscriptions to conflicts in Korea and S.E. Asia were added by sculptor Filipe Tohe in the 1980s.
The rock walls and gardens between Queen Street and the former Taranaki Club were constructed in 1927 by Pukekura Park's Superintendent, Thomas Horton using stone remaining from the Cenotaph.
Inscription:
On both sides (Incised in stone blocks)
1914 -1918
1939-1945
Korea
S E Asia
(On inset granite blocks below)
Their Names
Liveth
For Evermore
(On eastern side below the above 3 small bronze plaques commemorating)
Left Centre Right
V E Day 9th May 1995 The Great War VJ Day 15th August1995
The 50th anniversary of 75th Anniversary 50th Anniversary of
the end of World War II the end of WW II
Additional Information:
War Memorial: Cenotaph to cost £2000 (Taranaki Daily News 14 November 1923)
The Cenotaph: Local Stone Too Costly (Taranaki Daily News 30 November 1923)
War Memorial: A Tender Accepted (Taranaki Daily News 22 December 1923)
Work Begins on Cenotaph (Taranaki Daily News 4 March 1924)
New Plymouth Memorial: Cenotaph Nearly Completed (Taranaki Daily News 31 May 1924)
New Plymouth Borough Roll of Honour - 1914-1919
Vice-Regal Farewell Visit to New Plymouth (Taranaki Herald Supplement 16 September 1924)
Ian Pritchard, Frank Messenger: Architect, 1994. (TRCGC720.993482 MES)
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