It is believed that he worked with his friend, George William Francis, the first superintendent of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens in bringing them to the cemetery.

[5] Yehuda Avner, then Ambassador from Israel to Australia attended and read out a letter by Israeli Prime Minister, Yitzhak Rabin: "Given our history, our common heritage, our mutual faith, the desecration of the Adelaide Jewish Cemetery could not but touch a nerve in the emotions of us all...

It revives painful associations.”[5] A message was also read by Australian Prime Minister, Paul Keating, condemning the “mindless behaviour” that has “no place in a tolerant society.”[5][6] Both the federal and Government of South Australia promised to cover the costs of restoring the damaged graves and headstones.

It was built by Peters and Jones for approximately 472 pounds in 1871, as a memorial to the vicar general John Smyth, who is buried in the crypt beneath the chapel.

The minister set aside a half an acre of the Light Oval for this purpose, with a monument to be erected by public subscription and soldiers in unmarked graves to be re-interred there.

[10] The first burial was in March 1920 but with slow progress of public fund raising the area was not dedicated until Sunday 10 December 1922.