Parliament House Canberra ACT 2602
Telephone 02 6277 7820 Facsimile 02 6273 4140
The Hon Alan Griffin MP
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
VA098
Wednesday, 25 November 2009
SEARCH ONLINE FOR OVERSEAS AUSTRALIAN MEMORIALS
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.
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.”
For more information contact the Office of Australian War Graves at wargraves@dva.gov.au
Media inquiries: Belinda Cole 0437 863 109
The VVCS – Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service can be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a week on
1800 011 046.To receive the Minister’s media releases automatically by email subscribe at
minister.dva.gov.au/subscribe.htm
NEWS 
