Waverley Clock Tower War Memorial (1925)

At a public meeting on 6 October 1923 vigorous discussion surrounded the exact nature of a war memorial for the township. The meeting concluded with a decision to put the four best schemes out to a public vote: Cenotaph, Library, Gates and a Clock Tower. The Taranaki Daily News reported on 5 November 1923, that "there was very little interest in the vote", with 64 votes for the clock tower, 30 for the monument and only 13 for the gates. 

In August 1924 the Waverley Memorial Committee voted to accept Mr R.G. Talboys (Whanganui) plans for the clock tower and that he be asked to call for tenders. Attention next turned to the clock and after much discussion it was decided to engage the Wellington firm W. Littlejohn & Son Ltd. to manufacture the clock. 

The Wanganui Chronicle reported in January 1925 that the contractors (Messrs. Walpole and Patterson) were progressing well, and it was hoped it would be unveiled soon. In March the Patea Mail wrote that the clock tower was complete, however they were still waiting in the clock and the bell was "on the way out from Home (England)".

The clock tower was finally unveiled by Prime Minister J. Gordon Coates on 28 October 1925. The total cost of the project was reported as £1,800 - £1,400 for the concrete tower and £400 for the clock. 

Front Face

For God and Humanity

They whose names are inscribed hereon

Men of this District

Laid down their lives in the Great War

1914-1918

Pvt J.Anderson                       Tpr A R Hicks             Pvt W M O’Connell

Pvt F Bason                            Pvt Hiroti Rangi          Pvt S K O’Connell

Pvt E L Belton                         Lieut H J Hall              Pvt E Partridge

Pvt J T Bennett                       Pvt C Howie                Rflmn E S Partridge

Sgt A S Boyer                      Pvt J P Johnstone         Pvt J Ross            

Pvt R R W Campbell               Pvt C P Johnston        Pvt J Reid              

Tpr G Cleary                         Pvt J Kirkland            Sgt E Strachan DCM         

Sgt F Cormack MM                Pvt H Kreger               Pvt L Tucker       

Sgt J B Dalton                        Pvt J S Laidlaw           Pvt W White       

Pvt G Ellis                             Lieut D B McDonald       Pvt J Willacy      

Sgt E Elmslie                          Sgt C T McDonald       Pvt C Wood      

Maj J McG Elmslie                 Pvt E F Matthews       Pvt J A Johnson    

Pvt H Fesche                         Sgt F C Matthews MM                      

Erected by their fellow citizens in proud

and loving memory and as a thanksgiving

that such men were of their number.

Second World War

1939-1945

Spr M F Little           Tpr T W Bell                 Sgt R H W Wybourne

Gnr R J Newland        Gnr F Mitchell              Cpr J Walker           

Sgt P/T J G Dickie      Pvt J P Dewar               Pvt Brian Johnston

Dvr G K Newland      Gnr W Booker                 F/T Sgt J Mooney

South Side

This memorial is erected on the

Old Wairoa Redoubt which was built by

The pioneers of the District in 1868

Also two separate small bronze plaques

VE Day

9 March 1995

and 

VJ Day

15 Aug 1995