AN ANZAC MEMORY.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 89, 16 April 1927, Page 16

AN ANZAC MEMORY.

BOTTLE OF CHAMPAGNE.

STOLEN BY BURGLARS

T.AID ON CITY OFFICE

Thereby hangs a tale. There is usually a story associated with everything, and there is a story with a pathetic side associated with a recent burglary at the premises of L. Marks and Company, Chancery Street, where the visitors with glee drank a bottle of champagne found on the premises, and consumed the biscuits which the staff had procured for morning teas. In itself the bottle of champagne was not a serious loss, hut had the burglars known its history, even they might have pondered, for it was a link with an incident of over twelve years ago, and to Mr. L, Marks it recalled poignant memories of Anzac. A little over 12 years ago, a young Aucklander, the son of a former magistrate, and a personal friend of Mr. Marks, enlisted in the Auckland Mounted Rifles Mr. Marks made him a present of a saddle and bridle, which had been specially made. When the soldier came to say goodbye to Mr. Marks, he brought into the latter's office a bottle of champagne for the occasion. Mr. Marks persuaded his friend not to open the bottle, and instead the two men adjourned to a nearby hotel and celebrated the farewell there. '"We will leave the champagne until you come back from the war. then we will celebrate your safe return." Mr. Marks suggested. And so it was decided to leave it until the soldier returned. But early in 1910 the young soldier was killed in action. Ever since then the unopened bottle of champagne remained in a cupboard in Mr. Marks' office. But every Anzac Day he would carefully remove it and reverently wipe the dust away. It brought back to him a flood of memories — a young friend and a New Zealander, who died in the flush of manhood, and who now sleeps his last long sleep beneath an alien sky on the shores of Gallipoli.