The newly constructed Marrières Wood and Delville Wood Rooms have been added on to the original J C Lemmer Auditorium. These three facilities together constitute the W F Faulds VC Centre. It is named after Captain W F Faulds VC, one of the heroes of South Africa`s participation in the Allied campaign fought in the trenches of the Western Front in France and Flanders throughout the First World War (1914 - 1918).
WILLIAM FREDERICK FAULDS was awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry in rescuing wounded comrades under fire on two occasions during the Battle of Delville Wood on the Western Front in July 1916 as a private soldier. Later promoted to commissioned rank, he was awarded the Military Cross for his actions at the battle of Marrières Wood in the same area in March 1918. The Victoria Cross is the highest award for bravery available to members of the armed forces of the British Commonwealth.
The major feature of both the Marrières Wood and Delville Wood Rooms are the relief panels which decorate the main walls. These are reproductions of the bronze panels which are displayed in the Delville Wood Commemorative Museum at Longueval in Northern France. Showcases set into the walls contain authentic memorabilia of the First World War (1914 - 1918).
The Marrieres Wood Room On the Ground Floor of the Faulds Centre, this room offers space for both dining and cocktail functions with a superbly appointed preparation kitchen for use by caterers. Opening out from the Terrace function area adjacent to the Lemmer Auditorium, the Marrières Wood Room can provide seating space for up to 160 diners or cocktail space for 250 / 300 participants. A public address system is available and the room is fully air conditioned.
The Delville Wood Room On the first floor of the Faulds Centre, this room is reached by two covered external stairways and is furnished with trapezoid desks that can be arranged in a variety of shapes to provide seated workshop accommodation for up to 100 participants or divided into several breakaway areas for syndicate work. Other facilities on this floor include a projection screen, overhead and 35mm slide projectors, a public address system and air conditioning. Without its furniture this room offers a large unbroken area of carpeted floor space which may be used for exhibitions or displays.
J C Lemmer Auditorium Seating 176 in comfortable cinema style, the Auditorium is equipped with an overhead projector, public address system, two white boards, large and small projection screens and air conditioning. Additional equipment available are a VHS video projector, three 35mm carousel slide projectors and an audio tape player. The Auditorium is name after Major General J C Lemmer who served with distinction with the South African forces in the Western Desert during the Second World War (1939 - 1945). He was a member of the Museum Council from 1961 and Chairman from 1970 until his retirement in 1989.
The W F Faulds VC Conference and Function Centre
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