The faces of more than 80 local World War I soldiers will adorn the walls of the Cessnock City Library foyer in the lead-up to the Anzac Day centenary.
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‘Lest We Forget – Remembering Our Local Heroes From World War I’ features photographs of soldiers and details of their service, along with an impressive range of military memorabilia.
The exhibition – which opened on Friday – is the result of a collaborative effort of a committee of library staff, volunteers and local RSL sub-branches.
Among those in attendance at the opening was Cessnock resident Alice Wood, whose great-grandfather Abner Metcalfe and his five sons all served in World War I.
Ms. Wood said her great-grandfather, who is pictured in the exhibition with four of his sons, put his age down by 20 years so he could join his sons on the warfront to “do his part for King and country”.
Committee member Gregory Ingle, who contributed memorabilia for the exhibition, said it is important to educate younger generations of Australians about the Anzac legend.
“Without things like this, it would be lost,” he said.
Each photo and bio will be entered into the library’s catalogue.
Cessnock Mayor Bob Pynsent praised the library for their initiative and the committee for bringing it all together.
He said it is a unique exhibition that will capture a piece of Cessnock’s history forever.
