The Late Trooper Beck.

Bush Advocate, Volume XIII, Issue 2184, 27 January 1902, Page 2

The Late Trooper Beck.

The largest concourse of people that has ever assembled at Noraewood met on Svinday afternoon to witness the ceremony of unveiling the mouument to the Jate Trooper Beck who fell so heroically while helping to get succour for his comrades in South Africa. A detachment of the Union Bines acted as a guard of honour, and th« B>'as3 Band was in attendance and played most appropriate music. Punctually at 2.30 Mr P. Martin, the energetic secretary, mounted the platform aod read upologies for nonattendance froai the. Very Rev. the. Dean of W;mpu and Pastor Eics. The lt'trer -wrote a«s follow: -In reply to"yr>ur kind invitation, dated Jauuury loth, Ibog to state that it would have giyeu me great pleasure iudeed to hiive been with you on the 26th at the unveiling of "the Beck Memorial Monument ; but. A3 I have to be in Mtikuretu on the last Sunday in each month, and this is the last Sunday in this month, I could m/t possibly be with you. I honour and esteem any young man who showa regard to his country, and I am very glad to learn of tbe way in- wbibh the Norsewood community has deemr-d it proper to oommemorate the deeds of our late trooper, young John Becki I trust that the monument ye u are about to unveil will be an everlasting teaoher of two things, — Firstly, that the Danish subjects 1 in this oolony are loyal to the British Crowp, and at all times willing to give their lives for the servioe of the Empire ; secondly, that the people of the colony honour aud respect any man who does bis best to help to uphold the prestige of the British Empire. I pray to God that He will comfort ihe parents aud other relatives in their sorrow over the loss of their son and brother. 7 In conclusion, sir, as I understand that you are short of funds for the monument, and that a collection will be taken up, I beg to enclose cheque for £l, which you will kindly add to your collection. You have my best wishis for a successful meeting. Mr Martin then called upon Mr Hall, M.H.E., who, having; made a few introductory remarks, asked Mrs Ole Ericksen to unveil the monument, a ceremony which that lady gracefully performed, during which the tolnnteers presented arms, and the "last post" w»s sounded.

Mr Hall then proceeded with his address, "in which he eulogised the bravery shown by Trooper Beck. He also informed his he»;rers thai, a cross had been erected over the grave of deceased at Lichteuhurg (where he met with hti fatal wound) by his comradvs-in-rtrrus

Addresses were also giveu by Mr 0. A. Foston, A;ijuta>;t Cyok, the Rev Canon "Webb, aud Pastor Topholm, the last speaker reujinfling his hearers that f hough he was uot ni> Englishman by b ; rth, )<a was :i loyal subject of th* King. He had truveiled in several foreign countries and w.ns conversant with their laws. $tnd conldsay without fear of contradiction that there whs no freor country in ths world than that ovit which flew the' English flag. During the afternoon a collection was taken up a»d responded to with such ffood wiil th.-»t the monument is pud for, £12, the amount required, being taken.

Mr Hall, at thw wish of Mr M. Beck, father of deceased, then read a few words of heartfelt gratitude to all thoso who bad helped in erecting such a memento to his son, after which Mr Fostou moved that this meeting protests agaiust the recpnt vile aspersions cast upon the British troops and affirms its belief in ihtir honour and integrity.

Pastor Tppholm seconded and the resolution was curried amidst lond cheering, theproceedingsbeingbroughfc to a ciosH by th« Band playing " (Jod Suve the Kiug." The luoauiueut, which is a very handsome marble one and comes from the works of Mr J. Waterworth, of Napier, bears the following inscription: "Erected to the memory of Trooper H. J. Beck, othNew Zealand Contingent, who was wounded in action at Liohtenburg, Sontb Afrion, 3rd March, 1901. Died of his wounds 24th March, 1901. Aged 23." "Iv grate, ful remembrance of a brave soldier who gave his life in defence of the Empire." The monument stands on a 3-t'ier concrete basement, which was erected by Mr Cropland, of Ormoudville, and which does him infinite credit.