FIRST NEW ZEALAND HOSPITAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 245, 16 October 1922, Page 11

FIRST NEW ZEALAND HOSPITAL.

MEMORIAL AT AVON TYRRELL. -.."iNV.'.LI'X KM" HOMI. FOR OFFICERS. (From Our Ppec.nl Correspondent.! LONDON, August 14. . ceremony M the d«P«t lnter«t to tbe A Dominion to,U ~.« ye.tord .■ SnnV nth ~l- al - JlV(,n •.-rrell, 4hi> fiitSfnl home of Lord M«nEcri wbich during the war was . -in°Wcnt a horn- tor ntlVfrs-to he num- ™ of four -lan.lre.l-from Br«vkeunur.t Ba - No. 1 X«w Z-- l - anJ Hospii,*... These otliccr. After f.ie »..r had p-.n i;ifl. t.l.iet in the chapel close to J'hS, I' I- !«" •-" .inched. i r-_..n." l"r-\'oer.. r.nveil--.i it. in h, .p.,-h aid,-•■Xo-dav it ii nn proud and happy l hand 0-.OI' t- 1 vo '-'- on hplialf ot 've r four h..n.ir..i oflieer. „f !hc New Laland Ex,.cditi....,.y Kor-.-e thflt fought durin. the lato «. .« t.alhpol I.n Palestine and in rran.e '!hi. Tablet to be a memenu of happy day, spent »mon£ you here at Avon an.l thus, in a humble" manner. _*■ P'a«* on permanent record the feeling they have taken back with them to their own land. lam doubly proud to be associated with thi". occasion, firstly becau.se of the valour ot mT compatriots in the New Zealand Division, but mostly because it givea B e the chance of expressing the gratitude and affection those officer? atiU feel for all your goodness to them, while they were here sick and wounded. Looking back over their war experiences these happy times here must always be associated with the great kindness of Lord "and Lady Manners, and that devoted and efficient band of workers led so ably by their commandant. Miss Angela Manners. "It will always be one of my war regrets not to have served for at least a part of the time with the New Zealand Division, for. althqpgh I am only a New Zealander by adoption and not by birth, all the playing fields and companions of mv youth are in that sunny country, so many thousand miles away. "fhe English (I am talking now of the country of my birth) are a -self absorbed people, with lives ruled for the most part by tradition, numbers of your national possessions and buildings are more than a thousand years old—you live as much in the past as the present. It was difficult for you before the war to approach Empire problems from the same angle" as did your overseas Dominions, the foundations of whose traditions, like those of their buildings, were laid within the memory of living men. You might say—-what has this got to do with this ceremony? Only this, that occasions such as the one we celebrate to-day show us that war is not entirely destructive in its action. It has mixed i up the people of the Empire in a way that no other force could have achieved »t a time when everyone seemed ennobled and all showed at their best, so that in the long run great- good will come of it. _ have been asked to keep my remarks brief, as Sir James Allen, the High Commissioner for New Zealand, is to follow mc. It was Sir James Allen who, as Minister of Defence before the war, planned the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, and later, during some of the critical months of the war, was Acting Prime Minister for the Dominion. But before asking him to speak, I hand over to you, Lord Manners, this tablet, -which will remind you and the --fenerations after yon of the home New Zealanders found here during the war, and the gratitude which they will always feel towards you and your family." Sir James then spoke : — It is difficult for mc to compress into a few words all that I would like to say thi. afternoon. Thoughts crowd upon «ne in looking back on the year since 1914, many of them sad thoughts at the loss and misery, but there is another «ide to the picture. Those years of war gave opportunity for that practical expression of sympathy and kindness which, on the part of people in the Homeland, has been of inestimable value and comfort to so many in .New Zealand When it was realised how you, in this land, were caring fov and interesting yourselves in our sons and daughters, there was a feeling of relief throughout New Zealand. Fathers, •mothers, wives and sisters were happy >n the knowledge that those who had gone so far away from them, and into such Perils, had found friends on this side. I convey to you their, grateful thanks ior your many kindnesses. This Tablet, Unveiled to-day, is the gift of officers "«no wish to have in this sacred edifice » permanent memorial of their gratitude to Lord Manners and his family. I can well understand how the officers of the Aew Zealand Expeditionary Force enJoyed the time spent in Lord Manners' nome, so generously provided for them, and how they profited by the care and attention of the Hon. Miss Manners and I ,*■ 'hypers during their convalescence. But I cannot include what I have to I •ay to you without referring to other j Kindnesses shown to our men in this dis- 1 "et- It is difficult for mc to recall the I names of those whom I would wish to wank, and the list would be lengtliv, nut you will pardon mc if I take this' oecaruon to mention Mrs. Salwey and her; °and of workers, whose continuous care! OT the graves of y ew Zealanders who! ""St m JWkeiihiir.t cemetery is soj "eeply appreciated. I hope to-day to i nave the pleasure of personally thanking| -"ss Hay and her sister for their' Renerositv in allowing their house at' inornv Hill to be used by our New Zea-j ,a nd soldiers, and for the many kind-. »«!■... shown to our men whilst under! their care. j "I talc this opportunity also, to thank' c \ .A.D s. who rendered service at Hroekenhnr.M and Thorny Hill, and the) ladies who entertained and lookpd after our men at No. I General Hospital. Brnokenhiii_t. v "Such kindnesses as I have alluded to l c compensation which niitijratc some ' the horrors of war. and they will not °* forgotten by those who sent their sons •* 0 many mile, _/*ro*- the seas." I