The Sundial Memorial commemorates members of the 11th and 2/11th Battalions of the Australian Imperial Force. So, who were the 11th Battalion?

On 17 August 1914, just 12 days after war was declared in Europe, groups of volunteers arrived at Black Boy Hill training camp near Midland, Perth. They would become part of the 11th Infantry Battalion AIF and were the first ANZACs recruited in Western Australia. The 11th Battalion comprised 1025 men, 32 being officers and 993 other ranks.

The volunteers received two weeks basic training before boarding the ships HMAT Ascanius and HMAT Medic on 31 October 1914. The men departed from Gage Roads anchorage near Fremantle and joined the main convoy from Albany, escorted by HMAS Sydney, HMAS Melbourne and HIJMS Ibuki. In all 20,000 men and 7,500 horses were in the convoy.

Further training commenced soon after the troops arrived in Egypt in December. The old photo (shown in the gallery above) of officers and men of the 11th Battalion 3rd Brigade was taken on 10th January 1915 when they visited the Cheops Pyramid.

“After Church this morning the whole Battalion was marched up to the Pyramid… and we had a photo took or at least several of them.” (Captain Barnes’ diary – Australian War Memorial).

You can see a copy of the photo in the Visitor Information Centre this April. Names of many of the soldiers are on the reverse, some of whom have been identified by the WA Genealogical Society.

The 3rd Brigade was the covering force for the ANZAC Gallipoli landings on 25th April 1915 and so was the first ashore at 4.30am, close to Ari Burnu. Many lost their lives.

The Honour Avenues in Kings Park are living memorials to service personnel who died during war service. The Honour Avenues database includes 209 records of the 11th Battalion. These were some of the first to be dedicated at the Honour Avenues opening ceremony at May Drive on 3 August 1919. Then, 400 oak trees were tied to supporting stakes by relatives, and the plaques installed. The oak trees have since been replaced by Eucalyptus botryoides and are gradually being replaced by WA native species when they die.

The Sundial Memorial was erected in 1966 by members of the 11th (WWI) and the 2/11th (WWII) Battalions Association, unveiled by the then Premier David Brand and dedicated by the Reverend Captain Gostelow.

Ask the Guides in the Visitor Information centre where you can see the Sundial Memorial, or  find it on the Law Walk trail – with the Cenotaph behind you, walk to the right until you come to memorial number 20 on this map.

For more details see the websites of the 11th Battalion  and the Australian War Memorial.