On 11 October 1946 a row of 15 memorial totara trees was planted along the road frontage of the Waiuku District High School. A memorial plaque was set at the foot of each tree: one in memory of each the eleven past students of the school who had died on active service during the Second World War, one in honour of the fallen of each of the three armed services, and one as a tribute to members of the home forces.
In 1962 the former District High School buildings were taken over by Waiuku Primary School (the site is today known as View Road School).
The totara trees still stand on either side of the entrance to View Road School. In 1982, however, the plaques were moved to a low, curved, brick-built memorial wall erected in a garden on one side of the school quadrangle. Mosaics created by pupils of the school are set at the base of the wall.
The individual plaques are here transcribed in alphabetical order (each name is preceded by the words ‘In memory of’): Sgt. L.N. Atkinson N.Z. 4310154; P/O M.E. Barriball N.Z. 42358; Lieut. B.B.S. Catran 23716; F/Sgt. L.L.A. Craig N.Z. 411376; F/Sgt. H.E. Godfrey 405482; Sgt. W.H. Hood NZ 413417; Pte R.L.E. Jerram 21580; F/Sgt. J.M. Knight NZ4210031; Sgt. M.M.J. Kraljevich N.Z. 403458; Sgt. D.M.L. McKenzie N.Z. 414726; P/O. W.S. Masters N.Z. 421077.
The remaining plaques commemorate the fallen of the RNZN, the fallen of the 2nd NZEF, the fallen of the RNZAF, and the members of the Home Forces.
Sources: 'Memorial Tree Planting Ceremony on Friday', Waiuku News, 8/10/1946, p. 9, col. 2; 'A Kindly Tribute to Fallen Past Pupils', Waiuku News, 18/10/1946, p. 2.
Community contributions