FATE OF THREE GUNS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22415, 31 May 1938, Page 10

FATE OF THREE GUNS

War Trophies On Law Court Lawn EARLIER REMOVAL STEPS RECALLED Three of the four guns which exercised so much attention in Christchurch 10 years ago are involved in the removal steps being taken by the Beautifying Association. They are on the lawn frontage of the Supreme Court, which, with the Magistrate’s Court building, will be demolished to make way for the new justice buildings. The fourth gun—the pom-pom which was captured in the Boer War —is not likely to be a subject in any future argument, because it is now located, well out of the limelight and from the public view, on the lawn between the Old Provincial Council buildings in Armagh street and the river. The German howitzer —a Krupps gun—and the two pieces of field artillery which, since 1928, have grimly decorated the plot in front of the Supreme Court are the “monstrosities” to which Mr J. Sturrock referred at last week’s meeting of the Beautifying Association. The howitzer is a specially heavy piece of armament, and on either side of it, firmly embedded in concrete, are two light field guns. The three guns have been neglected in recent years. Their grey paint has long since lost its fieshness, and in places the guns are very rusty. They appear to have been the concern of. no one since they were removed from the city reserves. The four guns were in Victoria square before the City Council of 1928 decided, on strictly party voting, that they should no longer be allowed on land controlled by the city. A Labour council was then in power. The decision aroused tremendous interest in the community, and one night, in darkness, the guns were removed o their present locations. Once again the three guns captured in the Great War are likely to come prominently before the public. Mr A. W. Hutchison said at the Beautifying Association’s meeting:—“ There will be no guns there when the new buildings are completed. I just happen to know.” The pom-pom. for the retention of which the Veterans’ Association fought strenuously 10 years ago, does not come into any argument. It is on land which is unlikely to be affected by any building programme. Captured at Bapaume The howitzer began its closer association with New Zealand on August 20, 1918, at the capture of Bapaume, a military achievement which is emblazoned on the banners of all regiments and on the records of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. The story of its capture was told when the City Council decided that it had to go, with its less impressive companions, from Victoria square. For several days, the New Zealand troops had been pressing round the stricken city of Bapaume. The German machine-guns arryd its ruined walls caused the troops to be watchful and no liberties could be taken. The first Wellingtons were on the southern side of the town and the “Dinks”—the New Zealand Rifle Brigade—were on the western and northern sides. On the morning of August 29, everything seemed very quiet. There was only the sound of distant machine guns and some still more distant artillery, and Captain H. C. Meikle, of the Third Battalion of the Rifle Brigade, on receiving permission from the adjutant (Captain A. H. Carrington), took some trusted men and went slowly and carefully down the poplarlined, stone-paved road that led into Bapaume from its northern suburb of St. Aubyn.- There was still no opposition, and soon the troops were in the central square looking at the hole where once had stood the town hall, destroyed by the Germans in 1916. On the road along which the enemy had gone, the troops moved, and when clear of the town and on the road to Beugnatre, they found two German 8-inch howitzers. The words

“Captured by the Third Battalion, N.Z.R.8.” were soon chalked on their barrels and later the story of their capture was printed on them. The trophies did not stop long in France, At the time of the Armistice, they were in London, leading the great array of captured guns standing along the Mall. On the northern side, they were the two guns closest to Buckingham Palace. One found its way to Christchurch; the resting place of the other is not recorded. A Labour Vote “That the reserves committee request the Defence Department to remove the guns on our various reserves” was the resolution adopted by the council in March, 1928. It was supported by Crs. D. G. Sullivan, J. McCombs, F. Cooke, T. H. Butterfield, H. Hunter, R. M. Macfarlane, J. W. Roberts, G. Manning, and P. W. Sharpe; while the Labour Mayor (Mr J. K. Archer) voted with the minority, which comprised Crs. E. H. Andrews, M. E. Lyons, A. W. Beaven, H. F. Herbert, and J. W. Beanland. Cr. H. T. Armstrong later took part in another debate and voted with the Labour members. More than 9000 signatures to a petition in favour of the saving of the guns was made at that time, the Returned Soldiers’ Association being active in the campaign. The association said then that “there are two guns here that will not be returned to the Defence Department and these are situated in front of the Jellicoe Hall.” The two field guns are still there, anchored on concrete beds after they were surreptitiously removed in the dead of night on one occasion. The association’s attitude to the display of artillery Was stated at that time in the following terms: —“No sane member of the Returned Soldiers’ Association would be in favour of war; but many do consider that the millennium has not yet arrived and rumours of war are inevitable . . . The association is of the opinion that the guns are, before everything, a memorial to the gallant conduct of the men who captured them and silent testimonial to those who gave their lives for their country.” The Future? The future of the guns is indefinite. A Labour council has been returned in the city, and, unless there is a reversal of opinion in the past decade, the guns, if they have to be shifted from the Supreme Court frontage, are unlikely to again find a place on the city reserves. The Returned Soldiers’ Association has had two gtms for years, and the lawn fronting tne club rooms would be uncomfortably crowded if the howitzer and the two field guns were also placed there. In any case, the Supreme Court guns will have to be accepted first by the Returned Soldiers’ Association, which, it is stated, is not at all anxious to enter into any controversy on the subject of armaments and their place in tiie community.