EMPIRE'S DEAD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 266, 9 November 1935, Page 7

EMPIRE'S DEAD.

MEMORIAL PLAQUE.

REPLICA RECEIVED IN N.Z.

WAR GRAVES COMMISSION.

When Sir Fabian Ware visited New Zealand last year to tell New Zealanders something of the work of the Imperial War Graves Commission, which is concerned with the care of the last resting places of the Empire's million war dead, he brought a message of comfort to hundreds who were shown that their relatives and friends who fell on the battlefields are not forgotten. Because of the interest shown by New Zealanders in the work of the commission, Sir Fabiun felt that some permanent reminder of the thought and care given to war graves would be appreciated in the Dominion, and upon his return to England persuaded the commission to secure replicas of the memorial plaque in Westminster Abbey, and he has sent one of these to the Wellington Returned Soldiers' Association and one to the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association, says the "Post." - ■ - The replica is the same size as the plaque in the Abbey and is beautifully reproduced, even the colouring of the coats of arms being faithfully copied. The plaque ie about 30in high by 15in broad and has the Royal Arms surrounded by the Coats of Arms of the Dominions at the top, the New Zealand Coat of Arms being in the central position. Below the Arms is the following lettering:— To the glory of God and to the memory of one million dead of the British Empire who fell in the Great War, 1914-1918. They died in every quarter of the earth' and on all its seas and their graves have been made sure to them by their kiu. The main host lie buried in the land of our Allies of the war who have set aside their resting places in honour for ever.

"It may be of interest to mention that similar tablets have been placed in a number of cathedrals in France and Belgium," says Sir Fabian in a covering letter. "In France the inscription is set out in French and English; but in Belgium, on the other hand, Latin and English have been used, the Belgian authorities having themselves suggested that this was the best way of overcoming the language difficulty in that country where, as you know, both French and Flemish are spoken ..." As the reproductions of the plaque, which are in bas-relief and have more of the appearance of a bronze and enamel plaque than a photograph, have just been received, the executives of the Wellington R.S.A. and the N.Z.R.S.A. have not yet decided upon their future use. The original plaque in the Abbey was unveiled by Hie Royal Highness the Prince of Wales on November 19, 1926, in the presence of the Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom and the Dominions, who were in London for the Imperial Conference of that year.