The Newswag Memorial was repaired in the Spring of 2023 by Fine Memorials for the Friends.
This toppled cross remembers Augustus Marinus Thomas Newswag, 1866-1900, who was a Royal Marine and Policeman. The memorial joins a popular 'desire line' path and was chosen for repair as it would improve that walkway considerably. The inscription reads:
In Loving Memory of my dearly loved husband Augustus MT Newswag who fell asleep July 4th 1900 aged 34. Gone but not forgotten. Also In Loving Memory of Augustus James Cook beloved husband of Lydia Cook who died August 11th 1927 aged 73. In the midst of life we are in death. Also Lydia Cook who died October 20th 1938 aged 73.
Augustus enlisted in the marines in 1882 and was present for the fierce, hard-fought battle of Tamai on the 13th March 1884. He left the army in 1891 and in mid-1892, he married Lydia Slocombe, the daughter of a sawyer. Their story can be read in full here.
The first part of the repair was for Fine Memorials to place the three-tier plinth on a solid foundation. After that was complete the broken cross, now reassembled, was inserted on top. That was pinned and cemented back into place.
After this, the Friends' Volunteers set about repairing the kerbs and restoring the chippings.
