A rather special and unique commemoration is about to take place in Bega.
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While most commemorations of the district's war service personnel take place at the Bega War Memorial Gate, the cedar reredos in St John's Anglican Church predates it and will be marking its centenary year next month.
The superb hand-carved memorial built by local craftsmen is inlaid with engraved brass plaques carrying the names of servicemen killed during World War I who were from local church families.
Church warden Brian Cairns said the reredos war memorial has taken pride of place in the Anglican Church since 1919 and is the oldest war memorial in the district.
Additional honour rolls have been added to commemorate those who lost their lives in World War II, with those also to be dedicated and blessed at the special service taking place on October 13.
Mr Cairns said the church has been busy trying to locate descendants of all those named on the memorial so they can be part of the centenary service.
Al members of the community are also warmly invited to attend to what should be a "rather moving service".
"To a bass drum hit, each name on the memorial is going to be read out while a family member - or RSL sub-branch member if no family is there - lights a candle," Mr Cairns said.
"More than 30 people [from the church] killed in those two wars are named on the memorial, and many families were touched.
"It's going to be a very special tribute."
Heartsong choir and the Bega District Band will be providing music at the service, while Douglas Simper will be playing the historic church organ.
It's understood newly appointed Bishop for the Canberra-Goulburn Archdiocese Mark Short will be in attendance, along with Member for Eden-Monaro Mike Kelly.
The service will take place from 10am on Sunday, October 13, following a short procession of descendants, RSL members and other ex-service personnel in the church grounds from 9.45am.
Refreshments will be served following the service.
Any descendants of the men listed on the St John's reredos memorial (see below for list) are urged to contact Brian Cairns on 0428 360 418, or Steve Gray on 0410 522 334 to confirm your attendance.
Names
World War I:
Driver Joseph Britten
Lance Corporal Kenneth GA Brown
Private Eric Courtney Campbell
Private Edward Gregg Cochrane
Private Cecil Lionel V Collins
Private Vivian Gwynne Dawson
Sergeant Guy Ellis
Bomber Arthur Clifford Evershed
Private Benjamin Getty Gowing
Private Thomas W Henderson
Private David Koellner
Private John Lavington
Private Wallace WJ Pruss
Lieutenant Eric Howard Ritchie
Lieutenant Frank Lane Ritchie
Private Trevor Stuart Rixon
Lance Corporal Sidney R Thatcher
Able Seaman Norman Wallace Worland
Gunner Hal Wren
World War II:
Signalman Fred Ernest Abram
Flight Sergeant Ivan Chapple
Flight Sergeant Keith Merton Cochrane
Gunner Arthur Cecil Cooper
Private Harold Wallace Dowling
Sapper Sydney Elliott
Craftsman Mitchell Bronte Farrell Hazelgrove
Private Eric Luke Thomas Hunter
Flight Sergeant Auburn Clyde Innes
Private Basil Albert Lucas
Private Allan Francis O'Brien
Flying Officer William George Parkes
Sapper Thomas Robertson
Gunner Patrick Joseph Salway
Private Raymond Russell Slater
Lance Corporal Harold William Underhill
Driver Henry Underhill
Private Ronald Mervyn Wilton