BROCKENHURST HOSPITAL.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16561, 28 June 1919, Page 10

BROCKENHURST HOSPITAL.

♦ i .• A MEMORIAL OP THE NEW , ZEALANDERS. A correspondent, M.J), writes:— Last February the demobilisation of , the New Zealand No. 1 General Hospital: at Brockcnhurst, Hampshire, J took place. . An English lady, formerly resident in Christchurch, has :,just sent mo a detailed account from ;the local parish magazine of the official and interesting ceremony in connexion with the presentation of a New • Zealand flag, in gratitude for the continuous kindness of the ■ residents and as a memorial of the long New Zea- . land oceupa.ion of Brockenhurst. I visited this charming locality in August, 1917. It lies within the New Forest, and is of great antiquity, being a genuine old forest village. These famous woodlands are at least a thousand years old, tho term New as applied to them being a misnomer. It has been proved by modern research that William the Conqueror did not in all probability; plant a/single tree, as , it was known in Saxon times as "a 1 mickle deer frith." Tho Church'of St. Nicholas stands on a hill approached -by . a winding, leafy road banked by luxuriant ■ wayside bracken, and shaded by noble trees; green pastures lie gleaming beyond. The churchyard is a truly sylvan . Garden -.of God, placed on the sloping hill-side, and now .known far and wide as the last .resting-place of tiie New Zealanders who died at Brockenhurst Hospital. At the time of .my visit, less than two years ago, there were, thirty-five-of these graves. Alas, there are now over ninety I The church authorities reserved a largo space in one portion of the grounds, and there on the sunny slopes amid. a veritable garden of flowerß, intermingled with .stately trees, one a very I ancient and magnificent yew, our brave, departed lie in sylvan holy peace. _ Heavy rain fell during my visit, but did not deter me from paying a silent tribute of respect to the heroic dead nor from taking a then full list of their names. Over each grave a Wooden cross was erected bearing tho name, rank, . company, and date of death. Few from these .shores who visit England in future but will make this pious pilgrimage. Manv of us have since heard and read of the touching letter from a Brockenhurst ladv to Colonel Fenwick. the New Zealand general commanding officer of the hospital, assuring that those graves should always he cared for and tended by loving hands. Their graves and their memories will always be green. There are many sad-hearted parents who may be comforted by knowing something more of this sweet country churchyard where their dear ones lie amid trees and flowers, green pastures, and rural peace, as well as of the warm-hearted sympathy and attention which enfolds them for all time. The extract referred to is as follows: New Zealand No. 1 General Hospital.—The demobilisation of this great hospital is- now practically complete." The two large hotels and the numer- . ons houses occupied by nurses and staff are gradually being restored, to their* owners, and the vast collection of iron buildings, known as "Tin Town," is now emptied of all its ,r bluo boys," and will have to be disposed of by sale. Before the last batch of men departed, on Wednesday, February 19th. at noon,- a picturesaue ceremony took place. The New Zealanders presented a-beautiful silken flag of their Dominion to be hnng in the parish church «s a memorial of their protracted sojourn in Brockenhurst. The vicar and churchwardens, to whose'custody it was entrusted.-stood at tho church-, yard, gates, where • they received the flag from the officers, nnrses. and a large company of New Zealand soldiers, who were drawn up on the ween , ontsiije. t A. large number of - parishioners were : present. A band was in nttendnncc, and also a cinematograph. which ma«-wd to • produce some most sncccßpf-il fi'tns in spite of a continuous rain. The films were subsequently exhibited at the hospital and iave now gone to New Zealand, whera

they.will be shown everywhere as an evidence of the lasting goodwill and* friendship between BrocKenhurst and New Zealand... The flag now hangs over the chancel arch as a similar evidence here.- Tho following letter, suitably typed and framed, which s: now hangs in the tower porch, will be read with interest: Letter from Col. .Cfennell Fcnwiok, C.M.G., Officer Commanding No. 1 N.Z. General Hospital, Brockenhurst. I To tho Rev. C; Hope Gill, Vicar of BrocJcetkhom. ir-Before leaving Brockenhurst, the New Zealanders are anxiotu to make oozae memorial of their stay in tie neighbourhood. Vfo have been stationed here since 1916, and during this period 21,000 New Zealand soldiers have been nursed ia our hospital. Our sick and wounded- have received great kind-, ness and hospitality from the residents of Brockenlwrsi, and wo' wisii to expirees otir grateful thanks to our friends here.. Furthermore, we cannot forget that nearly. 100 of our comrades have been laid'to reet' in ♦he shadow of your beautiful church. We therefore tusk that you will permit the flag of our Dominion to hang in your church, to remind the people of Brockenhurst of the gratitude of their New Zealand cottaina, and to be an honourable memorial to, .those who cazne from the other side of the world to die for all that in nearest and d«ar<»st to the' British Empire.—l am, yours faithfully " P. CLENNELL FENWICK, Colonel.