Headstones unveiled to honour a further 14 of Tasmania’s fallen WWI soldiers

MORE of Tasmania’s fallen WWI soldiers have been honoured with 14 headstones unveiled as apart of the Tasmanian Headstone Project.

Austin Stevens, 6, with father Tim Stevens, who is an Airforce member, and grandmother Gail Jarvis, all of Hobart. They are at the grave of Private Richard Patterson, who is Gail's grandfather. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

A FURTHER 14 of Tasmania’s fallen World War I soldiers have been honoured with headstones unveiled at Cornelian Bay Cemetery as apart of the Tasmanian Headstone Project.

Australian War Memorial director Dr Brendan Nelson, who was guest speaker at the unveiling, said the headstones not only recognised the sacrifices made by the soldiers, but gave families a place to pay their respects.

“These men endured some of the worst aspects of the conflict and they carried deep psychological tragedies during and after the war,” Dr Nelson said.

The headstone unveiling comes 100 years after some of the worst fighting on the Western Front.

Of the 15,500 Tasmanians who served in the war more than 2700 never returned and at least 3000 died within 10 years of returning home.

Australian War Memorial director Dr Brendan Nelson, left, Rose Bay High student Lily Connor, 14, and Major General Steven Smith at the grave of Sapper Louis Richard Morgan during the unveiling of 14 headstones as part of the Tasmanian Headstone Project. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Event organiser and local historian Andrea Davies said the headstone project was about being mindful that we do not forget.

“I think it’s very significant, it is really about the men and their families and giving them somewhere to pay respect,” Mrs Davies said.

There are 500 unmarked WWI graves around the state, with the Tasmanian Headstone Project currently working to replace missing headstones.

The soldiers honoured today were: Private Albert Henry Cooper (40th Battalion), Private Richard Patterson (51st Battalion), Private Edward Thomas Cooley (1st Australian General Hospital), Private Francis Richard James Burke (40th Battalion), Private Clarence Roy Ford (40th Battalion), Private James Heaver (12th Battalion), Private Thomas Henry Horne (12th Battalion), Private Emamuel Thomas Jones (12th Battalion), Sapper Louis Richard Morgan (Third Tunnelling Company), Private Edward Charles Gilbert Manser (12th Battalion), Private Albert George Swan (12th Battalion), Corporal James Orlando Lucious Viney (Third Light Horse) Private Charles Henry Pretty (15th Battalion) and Private Andrew Nicholson (Pioneer Battalion with New Zealand Army).

Originally published as Headstones unveiled to honour a further 14 of Tasmania’s fallen WWI soldiers