ongoing.
Auckland Museum belongs to an established tradition of neoclassical war memorials that rely on the longevity of engravings in stone to communicate that the ultimate sacrifice made by these named service personnel will never be erased. This permanence is how many Commonwealth countries pay their respects, chiselled in stone “lest we forget.” The names carved onto the walls are drawn from the rolls of personnel who served in the province, and while they are remarkably accurate, human error means that there are inevitably mistakes. Online Cenotaph Collection Manager Victoria Passau explains: “This process of additions and corrections is part of how we whakamana (uphold the mana of) our service personnel by making sure their names are correct. After a few years in the wilderness, we now have a process in place to ensure they are as correct as they can be.”
While being “carved in stone” is supposed to mean that something is permanent and final, our duty to maintain our records to the best of our ability means that corrections and additions will occasionally need to be made. Requests for additions and amendments can be made to our Online Cenotaph team, who undertake research to confirm further details. You don’t have to be a relative of a serviceperson to request an addition: “It’s not always families. Sometimes the wider community advocates for service people who have lost their familial connections,” Passau adds.
The combination of our remarkable building’s heritage status as well as the time- and labour-intensive art of heritage stonemasonry means that it is simply not possible to update the Halls annually. “Every architectural element is heritage listed, including the names on the walls, and each element requires protection and careful consideration. It’s not the same as changing the label in a gallery.” While the Museum has committed to make changes to the names every three years, this process is subject to review.
The corrections and amendments are being undertaken by an expert stonemason, Marcus Wainwright, who specialises in heritage stone restorations, over a period of ten days in the lead-up to this year’s Anzac Day commemorations.
You can find more information on how to request a correction or addition here.
The names being added or corrected are:
South African War
John Vaille Douglas Aitken-Connell
First World War
Alfred Robert Francis Harding
Isaac Chadwick Taylor
Second World War
Cedric William Clare
Ronald James Lichtwark
Leslie Desmond Monkley
Ernest Desmond Rimoldi
Richard Harold Yeoman
Alan Frederick McCook
Frederick William Parker
Thomas Te Hau Taiatini
William Todd Lawson Richardson Hamilton
Graham Rangi Morrison Thomas
Edward William Allnatt
Peter James Mollison