Headstones of WWII heroes bought by Australian War Memorial at auction
An Australian War Memorial (AWM) staffer has been sent undercover to buy the gravestones of two decorated Australian soldiers, who died during the Cowra break-out in 1944, at auction.
Privates Benjamin Hardy and Ralph Jones were killed fighting Japanese prisoners of war in the Cowra break-out during World War II, and posthumously awarded the George Cross for "outstanding gallantry".
Their gravestones were replaced by the Commonwealth Graves Commission, but the originals were saved from the tip and put on display at the Cowra War, Rail and Rural Museum.
The headstones were on public display at the museum for years, surrounded by flowers, alongside a photographs of the soldiers and story of their heroic efforts.
When the museum closed recently and its contents were put up for auction, they were some of the many items sold.
AWM director Brendan Nelson sent one of his staffers to bid on the gravestones, without disclosing the fact she was from the War Memorial.
"The AWM doesn't often go into auctions, because of what it does if people find out about it. It helps inflate the price of military artefacts and relics," he said.
The staffer won the auction, acquiring the headstones for $325.
"They are Australian soldiers who were wearing our uniform fighting under our flag, defending our interests, and their headstones need to be treated with dignity and respect," Dr Nelson said.
"How the person who subsequently owned them could find it appropriate they be auctioned is something that is beyond me.
"But we've invested just over $300 wisely in my opinion in acquiring them. We will respect them … and have them in perpetuity at the Australian War Memorial."
He said the when it was originally determined the headstones were going to be replaced, they should have been destroyed and not simply taken to the tip.
Mortuary table from POW camp also sold
Cowra War, Rail and Rural Museum owner Ron Horsfall said he saved the headstones from the scrap heap almost 30 years ago, along with other items.
"They were simply going to the tip and they were offered to me," he said.
On the same day, he also picked up a mortuary table that was used at the Cowra POW camp.
The two-metre concrete table was also on display at the museum for years and sold at auction for $100.
Mr Horsfall said it was purchased by a woman who was now using it as a pot plant stand in her garden.
"That was going to end up at the tip too if I hadn't taken it … I was sad to see it go to a backyard," he said.
He said he was genuinely pleased that the tombstones did not have a similar fate.
"The Canberra war memorial has got them now so they can't go to a safer place," he said.
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