This Friday 14 October commemorates the 100th anniversary of one of the most memorable events in Manly's history – the dedication of the Manly ANZAC War Memorial by Australia's then Governor General, Sir Ronald Munro Ferguson.

The towering polished-stone monument, which stands to this day on The Corso, Manly's main pedestrian thoroughfare, was among the earliest of such cenotaphs to be built in Australia.

Taking place during the darkest days of World War One, Munro Ferguson's presence at the dedication ceremony transformed the event into a de facto rally in support of Prime Minister Billy Hughes's bitterly contested plebiscite on full conscription for overseas service by Australian soldiers, sailors and airmen, the first of two such failed referendums during the Great War.

It was against such a momentous backdrop that the Governor General's presence in Manly, exactly 100 years ago this Friday, prompted a vast crowd to assemble in a tumultuous display of patriotic fervour.

The beautiful monument was the gift of a local businessman, Mark Mitchell and his family, whose son Alan David Mitchell, was among the first Australian soldiers to die at Gallipoli and whose name takes pride of place on the Memorial. Among those of Alan's mates whose names also adorn the monument is that of a Queenscliff resident, Fred Reynolds, the very first Australian to die at Gallipoli.

1916 witnessed some of the most cataclysmic events of World War One, including the immense Battle of Verdun, the terrible Battles of the Somme and the Battle of Jutland, the biggest naval battle in history.

That year, tens-of-thousands of serving Australian men and women were to endure great suffering at Fromelles, Pozières and elsewhere in the defence of Europe, many having only recently been evacuated from Gallipoli.

"Eventually, across Sydney's Northern Beaches, one in every six men who enlisted for service abroad during the Great War would not come home, the conflict having an enduring impact on the culture, heritage and memories of our local community," said Northern Beaches General Manager, Mark Ferguson.

During subsequent conflicts, the Manly ANZAC War Memorial has been expanded to include 484 names of Australian men and women who lost their lives in the service of the Nation, including those who served in the Boer War, World War Two, Vietnam War as well as Korea and Afghanistan.

"Recently, the name of Warrant Officer Ronald Lees became the fourth Vietnam Veteran to be added to the Manly ANZAC War Memorial.

"The Manly ANZAC War Memorial is far more than a monument. It is a continuing piece of our history," said Mr. Ferguson.

Watch a NFSA video of the 1916 dedication.