C’mon, show your good side

Freo Today. 15 April 2025. Only 10 days till ANZAC Day and North Fremantle’s Unknown Solider is still missing his rifle. North Fremantle’s War Memorial, including the Unknown Soldier, has been the target of theft and vandalism over the years. Located at the corner of Queen Victoria Street and Harvest Road, the white marble statue of the Unknown Soldier has been damaged again and his rifle is missing. Constructed in 1923, the monument was placed on the State Heritage Register in 1993. Inscribed on the monument are the names of 105 local men who died during World War I, with the names of the 12 men who lost their lives during the World War II added in 1945. Over the years, the rifle has been stolen and replaced multiple times. In 1988, the memorial was vandalised and the rifle damaged. The marble statue was restored and a new gun provided through the cooperative efforts of the City of Fremantle and the North Fremantle Community Association. The rifle was again stolen and replaced in 1995. A service is held at the North Fremantle War Memorial each ANZAC Day. The City of Fremantle is working to repair the statue’s broken rifle, however the job is more complicated than originally thought and regrettably will not be done in time for this ANZAC Day. Heritage Officers have been investigating the options for repair since it was brought to the City’s attention late last year. The RSL and the North Fremantle Community Association are aware of the situation. On ANZAC Day 2020, we ran a special feature on Fremantle’s War Memorials – Lest We Forget, and featured this monument in it. Perhaps the person/people who thought their theft of the rifle was a funny prank might think again and return the missing rifle before the 25th. C’mon, show your good side. Thanks to Jean Hudson for the words and pic.