WAR SHRINE.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18604, 1 February 1926, Page 8

WAR SHRINE.

HIGH SCHOOL MEMORIAL. UNVEILING CEREMONY. The Shrine t.o commemorate, the sacrifice of High School old. boys in tho' Great War was unveiled and dedicated yesterday afternoon. An arch of grey stone, it stands in the playing field of the new High School in Straven road: Under tho vaulted roof is a granite sarcophagus, and embedded in the rear wall are panels with tho names of old boys who lost their lives. Tho apex of the memorial is 49 feet from the ground, and it is surmounted by a figure eight feet in height bearing tho school arms. There was a large attendance of old boys, present boys, and parents. The High School Cadets and Band formed a guard of honour. Mr J. R. Cuuingliam (chairman of the Memorial Committee) said that tho Shrine had been erected by the old boys, scattered in many parts of the world, with assistance from relatives and friends and present boys of ttho School. The conception of the Slirine was due to Mr M. J. Guthrie, an old boy himself. When the memorial was inspected and its symbolic ' meaning interpreted, all would agree that it was a fitting commemoration of tho sacrifice of the old boys who had given their lives for their King, Country, and school. The work of construction had been carried out faithfully by Mr Silvester. Some might think that the memorial was somewhat bare, but an avenue of cypress trees, which had already been given by Mr James Deans, would be planted in tho winter. During the crowded and anxious days of the war, the old headmaster, Mr Bevan-Brown,. had sent messages, testaments, and ribbons, to the old boys at tho front, and these gifts were treasured to-day. It was felt that the Shrine would be an inspiration to generations of boys who would pass through the now school. As the years went by its beauty and dignity would increase, and it would breathe out across the fields a message of duty and' sacrifice. Mr Cuningham concluded with a passage x from Pericles, beginning, "and so they gave their bodies to the commonwealth, and re ; ceived, each for his own memory, praise that will never die." "Pride and Pleasure."

The tablet was unveiled by_Mr C. E. Bevan-Brown, M.A., who said; "It is my prido and pleasure to unveil this memorial to the one hundred and fortytwo pupils who gave their lives." After a pause he said: "This flag is not a new one. We'used, in the years ot the war, to heist it when the news came, through the death of an old boy at the Front.

In an address, Mr Bevan-Brown said that the suggestion of the memorial was begun in the school in 1917. After a fair amount of money had been collected, it was given to the Memorial Committee. The first idea had been a memorial library at the old school, but when the proposal to build the new school had been raised, the committee had accepted the speaker's suggestion of an arch. Later they had, wisely, changed the proposal to a memorial shrine. In the middle was the sarcophagus, which was to remind them of the death of the dear boys, and at the top was a cross to commemorate sacrifice. At the spring of the arch was an angel bearing the school anns, an emblem of resurrection and victory. Mr Bevan-Brown talked of the war years, remembering the rush of old boys to enlist and the talk of a "short war," In September, 1914. tho school said good-bye to the ,members of the main body and then Colonel Macbean •Stewart, who was killed in April, 1915, had modestly sakl they were "going to do their bit," and Gordon Harper had also spoken. Each Christmas the school had sent presents to the men, and little pieces of blue and black ribbon. These were worn in all climes, on land and sea and in the air. The first casualty was Oliver Garcia, who fell in tho battle of the Aisne, and then had come 'the Anzac losses. Eight hundred old boya enlisted to serve their King, and they had not gone lightly; they had heard the call of duty and counted the cost. "I cannot think that they gave their lives in vain," said Mr. Bevan-Brown. "No sacrifice is in vain. The angel on tho arch speaks of resurrection, and I believe that the old boys are living an unimaginably fuller life behind this .veil of things. As He died to make men boly. they died to keep theinj free."

The dedication prayer was read by the Rev. F. Dunnage, T D., and "Jesu, Lover of My Soul ! ' was sung. The Hon. Sir R. Heaton Rhodes said that he had intended this to be his last duty as Minister for Defence, but he had laid down the reins of office a few days ago. He had always t'elt it an honour to take part in the unveiling of war memorials. He could see on the tablet names of men he had known, names well known in Canterbury, names of Goldiers who had served with him in South Africa and who had. clone their duty again. General Allenby had recently said' that New Zealanci hail proved she could breed heroes, and these were the heroes of the High School. Other generals of France and Britain had spoken of New Zealanders as a ''magnificent lot who always played the game." It was fitting that a Shrine should be erected in memory of the old boys who had been true to the traditions of the school both in the lines and behind them. There were memorials on Gallipoli and in France, but the best memorial was in the hearts of the people, who would hand down to their children the traditions of duty and sacrifice. The school song was sung. The present headmaster, Mr G. J. Lancaster, speaking as all old boy, said that the crowning achievement of schopl had not been in its distinguished scholars or athletes, but in the 800 men who went to the war and in the 142 who did not return. The Shrine faced tire school where the boys were'having their characters moulded, and it faced plpyiig fields. To masters and boys alike it would be a reminder of the school 's ideals and of the sacrifice made. All missed the assembly hall of the old school, but he hoped that a hall might n? le new school. The "Last Post" was sounded by a bugler, and after two minutes' silence, Reveille" rang out. Th® Mayor (Mr J. K. Archer) and the Mayoress, and Major-General R. Young, G.0.C., N.Z. Forces, were present.