Yeronga Memorial Park & Honour Avenue Trees

The Trees of Honour Avenue

There are two memorials in Yeronga Park (Brisbane, Australia) in honour of local soldiers who gave their lives during the Great War. They were constructed between 1917 and 1921 and funded by public subscription. One is the Cenotaph, and the other is "Honour Avenue" - a memorial to the soldiers from the Stephens Shire which began in 1917 as a row of 96 alternating weeping fig and flame trees that lined the newly-created avenue through the park. This webpage contains the names of each of the men and photos of the trees. The trees are in the order in which they were planted. The main page is at Yeronga Memorial Park Home Page. My thanks to John Huth for his advice.
If you worked there or have any feedback please email me:

Dr Richard Walding
Research Fellow - School of Science
Griffith University
Brisbane, Australia
Email: waldingr49@yahoo.com.au

Looking down Honour Avenue to the Park Road gates. The trees begin with number 1 on the left side of Honour Avenue, and number 2 on the right.

Left hand side (State school side)
Right hand side (High school side)
THE FIRST PLANTING - 15TH SEPTEMBER 1917
    
 
1. Weeping fig, planted September 15, 1917, replaced 2012. William John (Jack) Rigby, 9th Bn. Died April 28,1915.   2. Weeping fig, planted September 15, 1917. Arthur Leslie Kenyon, 15th Bn. Died August 8,1915.
 
3. Flame tree planted September 15, 1917 but replaced with ornamental grass in 2012. Marshall Vivian Henry Jury, 2nd LH. Died August 25,1915.   4. Flame tree planted September 15, 1917 but replaced with ornamental grass in 2012. John Raymond Fairlie, 25th Bn. Died February 13,1916.
 
5. Weeping fig, planted September 15, 1917. Olly Carl Rush, 12th Coy. Died August 6,1916.   6. Weeping fig, planted September 15, 1917. Bazil Hope Colefax, 47th Bn. Died August 9,1916.
 
7. Flame tree planted September 15, 1917 but replaced with ornamental grass in 2012. Jeffrey Frederick Raoul Uncoq, 5th Bde. Died March 5,1917.   8. Flame tree planted September 15, 1917 but replaced with ornamental grass in 2012. William Lumsden Packman, 4th Bde. Died November 15,1916.
 
9. Weeping fig, planted September 15, 1917. William Temple, 3rd Bn. Died July 23,1917. Temple- not temple's tree   10. Weeping fig, planted September 15, 1917. John Barrie, 41st Bn. Died July 7,1917.
 
11. Flame tree, planted September 15, 1917 but since replaced with a leopard tree. John Thomas Black (Blake), 49th Bn. Died July 7,1917.   12. Flame tree planted September 15, 1917 but replaced with ornamental grass in 2012. John Bradshaw, 25th Bn. Died August 5,1916.
 
13. Weeping fig, planted September 15, 1917, replaced with ornamental grass. John Clark, 25th Bn. Died August 5,1916.   14 Weeping fig, planted September 15, 1917, replaced with weeping fig 24 April 2015. Joseph Horace Cloughley, 49th Bn. Died June 7,1917.
 
15. Flame tree planted September 15, 1917 but replaced with ornamental grass in 2012. Lionel Stuart Doolan, 9th Bn. Died January 5,1917.   16. Flame tree planted September 15, 1917 but replaced with ornamental grass in 2012. Robert Douglas, 47th Bn. Died June 7,1917.
 
17. Weeping fig, planted September 15, 1917, replaced 2012. James Fielding, 9th Bn. Died April 25,1915.   18. Weeping fig, planted September 15, 1917 but replaced on 24 April 2015 with weeping fig. Norman Lister Freeman, 55th Bn. Died July 22,1916.
 
19. Flame tree planted September 15, 1917 but replaced with ornamental grass in 2012. Alan Somerset Orde Fuller, 3rd Field Amb. Died August 19,1916.   20. Flame tree planted September 15, 1917 but replaced with ornamental grass in 2012. Hugh Grant, 3rd Pioneers Died July 14,2017.
 
21. Weeping fig, planted September 15, 1917. Roland Charles Higgs, 41st Bn Died July 8,1917.   22. Weeping fig, planted September 15, 1917. Leslie Manson Juster, 12th Bde. Died July 16,1917.
 
23. Flame tree planted September 15, 1917 but replaced with ornamental grass in 2012. Joseph Lightbody, 26th Bn. Died November 14,1916.   24. Flame tree planted September 15, 1917 but replaced with ornamental grass in 2012. Albert Lindsay, 25th Bn. Died July 29,1916.
 
25. Weeping fig, planted September 15, 1917. Paul Thomas Henry Love, 25th Bn. Died November 14,1916.   26. Weeping fig, planted September 15, 1917 but since replaced. Arthur Reginald Maxwell, 30th Bn. Died July 20,1916.
 
27. Flame tree planted September 15, 1917 but strangely replaced with a leopard tree. Joseph McCabe, 26th Btn Died August 5,1916.   28. Flame tree planted September 15, 1917 but replaced (also strangely) with a leopard tree. John Neil, 7th Field Amb. Died October 4,1915.
 
29. Weeping fig, planted September 15, 1917, replaced 2012. Arthur Orton, 47th Bn. Died October 17,1916.   30. Weeping fig, planted September 15, 1917 but since replaced. Francis Jacob Otterspoor, 31st Bn. Died July 19,1916.
 
31. Flame tree planted September 15, 1917 but replaced with ornamental grass in 2012. Harry Pillinger, 6th Field Amb Died November 7,1916.   32. Flame tree planted September 15, 1917 but replaced with ornamental grass in 2012. Victor A C Reedman, 52nd Btn Died January 14,1917.
 
33. Weeping fig, planted September 15, 1917. Roy William Sheppard, 31st Bn. Died October 23,1916.   34. Weeping fig, planted September 15, 1917. James Spiers, 11th Bde Died April 15,1917.
 
35. Flame tree planted September 15, 1917 but replaced with ornamental grass in 2012. James Thomason, 7th Coy Died March 26,1917.   36. Flame tree planted September 15, 1917 but replaced with ornamental grass in 2012. Thomas William Turner, 26th Btn Died July 29,1916. hooper fix
 
37. Weeping fig, planted September 15, 1917, replaced 2012. Harry Gilmore Wilson, 1st Field Amb. Died July 23,1916.   38. Weeping fig, planted September 15, 1917, since replaced. Henry Femister Wriggles, 41st Bn. Died February 27,1917.
 
39. Flame tree planted September 15, 1917 but replaced with ornamental grass in 2012. Henry George (Harry) Wright, 49th Bn. Died August 14,1916.   40. Flame tree planted September 15, 1917 but replaced with ornamental grass in 2012. John Henry Hooper (not Cooper), 47th Bn. Died June 19,1917.
   
THE SECOND PLANTING - July 26, 1918
 
41. Weeping fig, planted July 26, 1918 but since replaced. Thomas Robert Irwin, 3rd Bn. Died August 8,1918.   42. Weeping fig, planted July 26, 1918, replaced 2012. Alfred Erold Ansell, 42nd Bn. Died October 4,1917.
 
43. Flame tree planted July 26, 1918 but replaced with ornamental grass in 2012. Leslie Norman Bess, 9th Bn. Died May 3,1918.   44. Flame tree planted July 26, 1918 but replaced with ornamental grass in 2012. William Charles Behan, 25th Bn. Died May 25,1918.
 
45. Weeping fig, planted July 26, 1918. Frederick Caldwell, 9th Bn. Died September 20,1917.   46. Weeping fig, planted July 26, 1918. Daniel Carter, 32nd Bn. Died February 20,1918.
 
47. Flame tree planted July 26, 1918 but replaced with ornamental grass in 2012 but which has died off somewhat. Andrew Clark, 9th Bn. Died March 18,1918.   48. Flame tree planted July 26, 1918 but replaced with ornamental grass in 2012. Fergus John Clarke, 49th Bn. Died October 12,1917.
 
49. Weeping fig, planted July 26, 1918, replaced 2012. Eric Chapple Flay, 11th Field Coy. Died October 4,1917.   50. Weeping fig, planted July 26, 1918. William Shaw Francis, 47th Bn. Died October 16,1917.
 
51. Flame tree planted July 26, 1918 but replaced with ornamental grass in 2012. Robert Gilhespy, 25th Bn. Died June 29,1918.   52. Flame tree planted July 26, 1918 but replaced with ornamental grass in 2012. George Charles Gracey, 9th Bn. Died April 25,1915.
 
53. Weeping fig, planted July 26, 1918. Edwin George, 15th Btn Died October 15,1916.   54. Weeping fig, planted July 26, 1918, since replaced. George Malcolm Grant, 31st Bn. Died September 29,1917.
 
55. Flame tree planted July 26, 1918 but replaced with ornamental grass in 2012. Alfred Olof Johnson, 52nd Bn Died September 29,1917.   56. Flame tree planted July 26, 1918 but replaced with ornamental grass in 2012. Thomas Joseph Kerby, 49th Bn. Died September 3,1917.
 
57. Weeping fig, planted July 26, 1918, and replaced several years ago. It was again replaced in 2015 after fierce storms in late 2014. Walter Larsen, 52nd Bn. Died April 13,1918.   58. Weeping fig, planted July 26, 1918, since replaced. James Leonard Matherson, 4th Bn. Returned to Australia.
 
59. Flame tree planted July 26, 1918 but replaced with ornamental grass in 2012 which has been killed off by careless mowing. John Alexander Meiling, 9th Btn Died October 11,1917.   60. Flame tree planted July 26, 1918 but replaced with ornamental grass in 2012. Vernon Eustace Morse, 42nd Btn Died October 4,1917.
 
61. Weeping fig, planted July 26, 1918, since replaced. Stanley Edward Burrell Nalder, 26th Btn Died June 12,1918.   62. Weeping fig, planted July 26, 1918. Andrew Graham Ormiston, 25th Bn. Died May 27,1918.
 
63. Flame tree planted July 26, 1918 but replaced with ornamental grass in 2012. Henry Ernest Orth, 9th Bn. Died October 13,1917.   64. Flame tree planted July 26, 1918 but replaced with ornamental grass in 2012. John Otterspoor, 4thBn. Died May 22,1918.
 
65. Weeping fig, planted July 26, 1918. Arthur Robert French Oxford, 3rd Bn. Died November 6,1917.   66. Weeping fig, planted July 26, 1918. Andrew Paxton, 25th Btn Died October 7,1917.
 
67. Flame tree planted July 26, 1918 but replaced with ornamental grass in 2012. Wilfred Norman Leslie Reedman, 9th Bn. Died November 5,1917.   68. Flame tree planted July 26, 1918 but replaced with ornamental grass in 2012. Llewelyn Robson, 7th Coy Died October 13,1917.
 
69. Weeping fig, planted July 26, 1918. Charles David (Chas) Ruff, 25th Btn Died June 10,1918.   70. Weeping fig, planted July 26, 1918. George Charles Seabrook, 49th Bn. Died April 5,1918.
 
71. Flame tree planted July 26, 1918 but replaced with ornamental grass in 2012. Roy Alexander Wilson, 41st Bn. Died October 14,1917.   72. Flame tree planted July 26, 1918 but replaced with ornamental grass in 2012. Frederick John Joice Woodhouse, 25th Bn. Died April 18,1918.

 

THE THIRD PLANTING - 23RD AUGUST 1919

    
 
73. Weeping fig, planted August 23, 1919. Daniel McNee Binnie, 3rd Coy. Died July 6,1918. tree photo   74. Weeping fig, planted August 23, 1919. Gilbert Campbell Brodie, 11th Field Coy. Died August 26,1918.
 
75. Flame tree planted August 23, 1919 but replaced with ornamental grass in 2012. Charles Edward Beaman, 25th Bn. Died October 4,1917.   76. Flame tree planted August 23, 1919 but replaced with ornamental grass in 2012. Jack Cummings Capern, 4th Bn. Died August 8,1918.
 
77. Weeping fig, planted August 23, 1919. Harry Dutney, 49th Bn. Died September 30,1918.   78. Weeping fig, planted August 23, 1919, since replaced. Thomas Laidlaw Forbes, 1st Bn Died July 25,1918.
 
79. Flame tree planted August 23, 1919 but replaced with ornamental grass in 2012. Edward Charles Fraser, 11th Died September 25,1918.   80. Flame tree planted August 23, 1919 but replaced with ornamental grass in 2012. John Henry Gnatz, 15th Bn. Died July 6,1918.
 
81. Weeping fig, planted August 23, 1919. John William Gilhespy, 5th Died November 12,1918.   82. Weeping fig, planted August 23, 1919. Robert Wilkinson Hepworth, 9th Field Coy Died August 11,1918.
 
83. Flame tree planted August 23, 1919 but replaced with ornamental grass in 2012. Samuel John Hill, 45th Bn. Died September 18,1918.   84. Flame tree planted August 23, 1919 but replaced with ornamental grass in 2012. Roland George Markham, 9th Bn. 23rd RFS. Died August 10,1918.
 
85. Weeping fig, planted August 23, 1919. Walter Morgan, 9th Bn. Died August 10,1918.   86. Weeping fig, planted August 23, 1919. Harold Michel (Mitchell), 47th Btn Died June 7,1917.
 
87. Flame tree planted August 23, 1919 but replaced with ornamental grass in 2012. Allen George Marcus McWade, 15th Bn. Died August 11,1918.   88. Flame tree planted August 23, 1919 but replaced with ornamental grass in 2012. Martin John Nolan, 25th Bn. Died August 9,1918.
 
89. Weeping fig, planted August 23, 1919. John Wightman Ormiston, 25th Bn. Died July 17,1918.   90. Weeping fig, planted August 23, 1919. David Ormiston, 49th Bn. Died April 5,1919.
 
91. Flame tree planted August 23, 1919 but replaced with ornamental grass in 2012. Frank Straiton, 26th Btn Died September 2,1918.   92. Flame tree planted August 23, 1919 but replaced with ornamental grass in 2012. Jack Edward Sunners, 3rd Div Amm Col Died December 8,1918.
 
93. Weeping fig, planted August 23, 1919. John Paterson Taylor, 38th Coy Died November 21,1918.   94. Weeping fig, planted August 23, 1919. Thomas James Carey, 15th Bn. Died May 9,1915.
 
95. Flame tree planted August 23, 1919 but replaced with ornamental grass in 2012. Christopher Arthur Clifford, 25th Bn. Died September 2,1918.   96. Flame tree planted August 23, 1919 but replaced with ornamental grass in 2012. Robert Alfred Whitton, Bn. Died October 25,1918.
 
97. Weeping fig, planted August 23, 1919. Bertie John Nugent Ketteringham, Merc. Marine Rsv. Died July 3,1918.   98. Weeping fig, planting date unknown. No soldier associated with this tree or any that follow.
 
99. Possibly a flame tree was here, between two weeping figs.   100. Possibly a flame tree was here, between two weeping figs.
 
101. Weeping fig, planted August 23, 1919. No soldier associated with this tree or any that follow.   102. Weeping fig, planted August 23, 1919. No soldier associated with this tree or any that follow.
 
103. Possibly a flame tree was here, between two weeping figs.   104. Possibly a flame tree was here, between two weeping figs.
 
105. Weeping fig. Planting date unknown. No soldier associated with this tree or any that follow.   106. Weeping fig. Planted February 2015. No soldier associated with this tree or any that follow.
 
107. Possibly a flame tree was here, between two weeping figs.   108. Possibly a flame tree was here, between two weeping figs.
 
109. Weeping fig, planted August 23, 1919. No soldier associated with this tree or any that follow.   110. Weeping fig, planted August 23, 1919. No soldier associated with this tree or any that follow.
 
111. Possibly a flame tree was here, between two weeping figs.   112. Possibly a flame tree was here, between two weeping figs.
 
113. Weeping fig, planted August 23, 1919. No soldier associated with this tree or any that follow.   114. Weeping fig. No soldier was associated with this tree or any that follow.
 
115. Possibly a flame tree was here, between two weeping figs.   116. Possibly a flame tree was here, between two weeping figs.
 
117. Weeping fig. Planting date unknown. No soldier was associated with this tree or any that follow.   118. Weeping fig, planted August 23, 1919. No soldier was associated with this tree or any that follow.
 
119. Possibly a flame tree was here, between two weeping figs.   120. Possibly a flame tree was here, between two weeping figs. Extensive bark-chipping dates from 2012.
 
121. Weeping fig. Planting date unknown. No soldier associated with this tree or any that follow.   122. Possibly a flame tree was here, between two weeping figs.
 
123. Possibly a flame tree was here, between two weeping figs.   124. Queen Palm (Sygarus romanzoffina) is an odd inclusion to the row of figs. Many different palms are used including Canary Island Date Palms (Phoenix caneriensis) and Chinese Fan Palms (Livistonia chinesis). Planting date unknown.
 
125. Weeping fig. Planting date unknown. No soldier associated with this tree.   126. Leopard tree. Planting date unknown. No soldier associated with this tree.
 
127. Possibly a flame tree was here, between two weeping figs (125 and 129). Extensive bark-chipping was done in 2012.   128. Again, a Queen Palm (Sygarus romanzoffina) is an odd inclusion to the row of figs.
 
129. Weeping fig, planting date unknown. The last tree in Honour Avenue. No soldier associated with this tree.   130. Weeping fig, planting date unknown. No soldier associated with this tree.

At the very end of Honour Avenus is this majectic tallowwood (Eucalyptus microcorys).
It is not a part of the Avenue.

To see earlier photos of the trees go to earlier photos.

If you have any further details about the trees of Yeronga Memorial Park that may help with this research project please email me at the address at the top of the page.