This is Carlo Bergamini's prize-winning design for the fallen troopers' memorial in Dunedin. Bergamini was born in Carrara, Italy, and was from a family in the marble sculpture trade. He came out to Australia and New Zealand and, after marrying an Irish immigrant to Dunedin, settled there. His designs won him contracts for South African War memorials at Ōamaru, Waimate and Riverton, in addition to this one in Dunedin. Bergamini left the actual sculptural work to his family in Carrara. The figure at the top of this memorial was a New Zealand trooper defending his fallen mate. Originally it was to be put up in Queens Gardens, but there was a fear that it might overshadow the proposed statue of Queen Victoria – so the war memorial was erected on the southern Oval instead.
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Hocken Collections, University of Otago
Reference: S12-007f
Permission of the Hocken Collections Uare Taoka o Hakena, University of Otago, must be obtained before any re-use of this image. Further information may be obtained from the Library through its website.