Sir Edward "Weary" Dunlop Memorial |
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Benalla, Victoria, Australia |
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The Edward "Weary' Dunlop Memorial is situated in the Botanical Gardens of Benalla, a Victorian rural town, where he spent much of his youth. The statue depicts Dunlop assisting with medical treatment of a fellow malnourished prisoner. Surrounding the Memorial are several brass plaques that provide details of his life and humanitarian achievements. In 1995 to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of WW2, Dunlop was portrayed on the Australian 50 cent coin with barbed wire representing his time as a POW. Edward Dunlop had graduated as a surgeon and enlisted in 1939 following the outbreak of WW2, assigned as surgeon to a medical unit with the 6th Division, Australian Imperial Forces. He saw service in the Middle East and Mediterranean and was recalled to help defend Australia in 1942 after onset of conflict in the Pacific. With the fall of Java to the Japanese, Dunlop elected to remain with his unit and was taken prisoner, ultimately being sent to work on the Burma-Thai Railway where he proved to be an inspiration to his fellow prisoners, many of whom died under the harshest of conditions and treatment. |
Close-up of the Sir Edward "Weary" Dunlop Memorial. |
Close-up of the dedication plaque on the memorial. |
One of the plaques which surround the memorial. |
Sir Edward "Weary" Dunlop's service record plaque. |
(All photos and text courtesy of Peter F. Williams) © 2011 Peter F. Williams all rights reserved |
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Page published Feb. 7, 2011 |