Atherton War Cemetery

South of Atherton on the Kennedy Highway, the war cemetery can be identified by the iconic Cross of Sacrifice. It is visible above the 164 simple white marble headstones honouring soldiers and airmen killed during World War II. War cemetery design was formulated by a small team of British architects after WWI. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission favoured the design of Forceville in France, the final resting places for those who perished in the Battle of the Somme. Elements of this layout were incorporated into the re-design of the Atherton War Cemetery in 1944. The Cross of Sacrifice symbolises the military character of the cemetery and the religious affiliation of the majority of the dead. The headstones are set in perfectly straight rows. The top of the headstone is engraved with the national emblem, the service or regimental badge of the deceased person, followed by their name, rank, unit and date of death. The creation of a garden setting evokes a sense of quiet contemplation and solitude. The Atherton War Cemetery was created in 1942, the same time the nearby Rocky Creek World War II Hospital was established. The Tablelands were training grounds for the jungle warfare of New Guinea.