ARMY MARINERS' MEMORIAL - CHOWDER BAY
In 1976 the Regimental Sergeant Major , WO1 Ray Oliver, MM and a senior instructor , WO1 Tom Nicol approached the Commanding Officer of the
Transportation Centre and requested permission to conduct a Dawn Service on ANZAC Day. The request was of course granted and about twelve soldiers
of all ranks gathered on the verandah of the Sergeants' Mess to conduct a simple ceremony at 0530 hrs on 25 April 1976. An Army padre officiated
and the bugle calls came from a record player. The Dawn Service was continued by a succession of commanders and the attendance grew in size,
particularly among the soldiers and their families living in the area.
In 1985, the then Commander, Major Ralph Pridmore, designed and built the present Memorial using sandstone from the East Gosford area.
The mines on either side of the Memorial are original mines from the Submarine Miners era, while the anchor mounted on the front comes from a
World War II Army 300 ton wooden cargo vessel. One of the two bronze plaques on the front of the Memorial dedicates it to fallen comrades,
and the other marks the military occupation of Chowder Bay from 1890 until its departure in 1997. Of the two bronze plaques laid in front
of the Memorial one is dedicated to the Australian Army Water Transport, RAE, AIF, and the other is dedicated to the memory of Lieutenant
Colonel Jim (Haggis) Wilson MBE, the first commander of 32 Small Ship Squadron, RAE.
When the Army departed the area in 1997, Colonel Ken Duncan, Patron of 32 Small Ship Squadron Association and the Army Water Transport RAE, AIF
Association, was appointed Custodian of the Memorial, charged with the responsibility for the future conduct of ANZAC Day Dawn Services. From
about that time, although the military attendance decreased the civilian attendance markedly increased along with schools, scouting groups
and such becoming involved. Attendance steadily increased to over 1000 people and concerns were raised about safety, security and limited
car parking facilities. Because of this, from 2006 the Dawn Service has been conducted at Georges Heights on the old WRAAC School Parade
Ground. However the Army Mariners' Memorial remains at Chowder Bay and Colonel Duncan has plans to seek approval from the Sydney Harbour
Federation Trust to pave the area between the Memorial and the refurbished parade ground, in order in to increase the overall ambience of
the site.
In 1985, the then Commander, Major Ralph Pridmore, designed and built the present Memorial using sandstone from the East Gosford area. The mines on either side of the Memorial are original mines from the Submarine Miners era, while the anchor mounted on the front comes from a World War II Army 300 ton wooden cargo vessel. One of the two bronze plaques on the front of the Memorial dedicates it to fallen comrades, and the other marks the military occupation of Chowder Bay from 1890 until its departure in 1997. Of the two bronze plaques laid in front of the Memorial one is dedicated to the Australian Army Water Transport, RAE, AIF, and the other is dedicated to the memory of Lieutenant Colonel Jim (Haggis) Wilson MBE, the first commander of 32 Small Ship Squadron, RAE.
When the Army departed the area in 1997, Colonel Ken Duncan, Patron of 32 Small Ship Squadron Association and the Army Water Transport RAE, AIF Association, was appointed Custodian of the Memorial, charged with the responsibility for the future conduct of ANZAC Day Dawn Services. From about that time, although the military attendance decreased the civilian attendance markedly increased along with schools, scouting groups and such becoming involved. Attendance steadily increased to over 1000 people and concerns were raised about safety, security and limited car parking facilities. Because of this, from 2006 the Dawn Service has been conducted at Georges Heights on the old WRAAC School Parade Ground. However the Army Mariners' Memorial remains at Chowder Bay and Colonel Duncan has plans to seek approval from the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust to pave the area between the Memorial and the refurbished parade ground, in order in to increase the overall ambience of the site.
