Including a visit to an Australian war memorial during your next overseas trip is now much easier with the help of a new online resource launched today by Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Alan Griffin. The Overseas Memorials Search http://memorials.dva.gov.au includes details and photographs of more than 110 official and privately constructed overseas memorials which honour Australian service across the globe.

“Australians have served in locations throughout the world – not only protecting our nation, but helping to protect our neighbours and allies,” Mr Griffin said. “Official memorials have been established by the Australian Government or the Commonwealth in many of these locations, and local communities have also erected special memorials and monuments. I encourage all Australians to consider visiting an overseas memorial as part of future travel plans, or as part of research into our wartime history.”

Mr Griffin said the new database provides travellers with details about memorials on the Kokoda Track, a memorial plinth at Subic Bay in the Philippines and a memorial stone in Elands River in South Africa.
“The database will continue to grow as more data is collected, and I invite people with information about the location or details of overseas memorials to contact my Department,” Mr Griffin said. “The stories behind each memorial are unique and provide a powerful reminder of the courage of Australians who served and died overseas.”

One such story is the moving tribute from the local community in Stadil, Denmark, who built a wooden cross to commemorate the crew of the Lancaster bomber EE138 which was shot down by a Luftwaffe night fighter over Stadil on 4 September 1943. The crew of eight men, four of whom were Australian, managed to steer the damaged Lancaster away from the village before it crashed. All eight men were killed.

The cross was engraved with the words “Minde over faldne allierede Flyvere” translated as “In memory of fallen Allied Airmen”, and after an Australian Government grant, now includes a memorial plaque and garden maintained by locals.

“The Australian Government has provided funding to help upgrade and restore some of these memorials through the Overseas Privately-Constructed Memorial Restoration Program,” Mr Griffin said. “The grants program has helped local communities enhance the memorial they have maintained over the years. Through this program we are hearing stories of appreciation and gratitude for our Australian servicemen and women.”