"WONDERFUL SERVICE."

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 288, 5 December 1929, Page 9

"WONDERFUL SERVICE."

ARMY MEDICAL CORPS. MEMORIAL UNVEILED. DEATHLESS DEEDS RECALLED. No words could possibly describe the wonderful service rendered by the New Zealand Medical Corps—men who had faced death, not once, but a hundred times, at the call of duty, said his Excellency Sir Charles Fergusson, when unveiling the memorial to the corps, erected at Awapuni racecourse, Palmerston North. Colonel W. H. Parkes, C.M.G., V.D.C., 8.E., stated that most of the personnel of the medical corps had received their training at Awapuni. As he stood there he could recall many deeds of heroism by the corps. One incident in particular he recalled. When he was in command of a hospital in Egjpt during heavy fighting and the number of casualties among' the troops became so large that it was found necessary to increase the number of beds from *20() to over 1000, the corps worked unceasingly until the accommodation necessary had been completed. Sir Charles Fergusson said it was impossible for him to mention the deeds that the men had performed. They had done their duty and showed devotion throughout. Their work was not done in hot blood and in the feverish pitch of battle, but they were calm and cool, knowing that they had a duty to perform when they had to venture across bullet-swept areas to bring in wounded, each time they went out knowing that nothing but death faced them. They had to work hours and days on end without a spell, always among the same horrors that only war, could reveal, but those men had stuck to their duty and won for themselves a name that would always be remembered. In unveiling the memorial, Sir Charles said he hoped that it would be a lesson to all, firstly of thanksgiving to the Almighty God for mercy, secondly in commemoration, that those \vlin como after us could realise tlio Iwuummloiu sacrifice made for them, iin.l ihh'illy u dedication to those men who Imil fallen and who had not given tholr Uvea in vaiu—but' in loyalty to Ihe King, and, above all, the loyalty io God, tho great healer and physician of nil.