VETERANS' ASSOCIATION.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15918, 4 June 1917, Page 11

VETERANS' ASSOCIATION.

MEMORIAL SERVICE.

The annual service in memory of tho Canterbury men who fell in the South African war was held m Mctona Lare vesterday afternoon, under the auspices of the Veterans' Association and before a large attendance of the The veterans, about fifty strong, toother with representatives from the E Battc-ry, Highland llifles Ist (Cantcrbi'rv) Kegimcnt, the C.1.C., and a lar-c contingent of Boy Scouts assembled in the King Edward Barracks under the command of Licut.-Coloncl Ores well, V.D., and were played round to tho Square by the band of the CYC under Lieut. Ihom. At the Victoria statuo the men were formed in hollow square, and among those who " nrcS cnt -it the ceremony were:— r i ne l xi A. Chaffey, O.C. the Canterburv District, Captain Matthews, hSi^Ssssstlf.^ earlier battles of tho Empire, who were accommodated with a seat. After a hymn, and prayer by Lieut.Colonel Christian, his "Worship the Mavor delivered a brief address. Ho said that it was fitting that the peoplo of Christchurch should assemble l>a y a tribute of respect to the gaUant dead, who had fallen m battle for the Empire in the war which had token place about fifteen years ago. Ho complimented tho Veterans' Association for its perseverance in keeping green the memory of tho fallen soldiers, and said that ho saw with pleasure tho representatives of that older generation who had done their duty in tho days long past. Canterbury m the P aS M obeyed the call to arms with aiacrity. and tho statuo before which they stood would remain as a reminder ,to their children's children of the glorious page of history in which tho dead whom they honoured that day, had taken part. Their enemy of that day was now fighting shoulder to shoulder with them for tho cause of freedom, liberty, and justice, and ho urged the citizens to unito to one end—victory in tho present great struggle. Several beautiful wreaths wero then laid round tho base of the Victoria Memorial in honour of the aead. Mr J J- Dougall said it was raspy years ei'nce the Veterans' Association had first assembled round tho Victoria statuo to perpetuate tlio memory of tho men who had Ihllcn in south Africa, and he noted that tho ranks of the men who had fought in the Crimea, the Mutiny, and elsewhere were becoming sadly thinned. They were passmg to their honoured rest, and they took with them the love and respect of their fellow-countrymen. Tho South African war first showed to tfy> world that the British peoples throughout tho world constituted an Empire, cemented not only by sentiment, but by closer bonds. Tho present war had accentuated this a hundredfold, and was a revelation of tho willingness of tho whole of tho neoples of the colonics and Dominions to fight for the rights of the Empire. At tho memorial service last year they had just had news of tho battle of Jutland, and at first .they were disheartened at tho tenor of the messages received, for it seemed that the JNavy had at last met a foe equal to it. A . few days later, however, tho truth was known, and every Britisher heaved a sigh of relief at tho thought that the British Fleet was still supreme, and it had remained supremo over tho seas of tho whole world. Then wo hoped for peace in a short time, but tho present "indications showed that poaco apparently was a long, long way off yotRussia could bo counted out, though at one timo it looked as though her efforts would prevail, but another groat ' nation had now taken up the burden, and it might bo that Britain would havo to take Prance's place iu holding the lino until America could throw her weight into tho scales. Ho believed the end would bo an Anglo- - Saxon triumph, a triumph for tho rights of humanity, and tho world hereafter would bo the better for the war. Licut.-Colonel Christian, in his address, touched _ on tho spiritual aspect of tho question, and said, that tho lesson to be learned from tho sacrifices made by the gallant dead was to bo prepared, so that when tho call camo, as it must to all, wo should be found

ready. .At tho conclusion of tho service a collection was taken up in aid of tho Veterans' Sick Belief Fund, and_ the service ended with the National Anthem.