THE Holsworthy Local History Society welcomed back Shawn Dymond to their meeting at the Skills Centre on Thursday, July 8, who, along with Janet Mason, is co-author of two books that provide in-depth accounts of historical events significant in the Holsworthy area.

This time he spoke about his new project on the war memorials of the Holsworthy Rural District area. He said he was noting the names of those listed and had been surprised at how many names were missing from the memorials.

He explained that very few war memorials existed from the time of the Boer War when three local men were lost and without any record. With eight million men mobilized in the First World War — of whom 70,410 were killed by 1917 — it was realised that a major war memorial would be needed.

Even so there were an estimated 45,000 names missing and it could take up to two years to get a name added.

Those not listed in the local area numbered at least 58, and were to be researched and added either to a scroll or a war memorial book, to be lodged in the church and chapel as extra names could not be added to the existing war memorials. In researching the names of local men who served, Shawn was able to relate stories of those whose war records he had found.

He wanted to be sure that all those that served had their names recorded for posterity and that none were forgotten.