WAR GRAVES OF SERVICEMEN

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28766, 11 December 1958, Page 12

WAR GRAVES OF SERVICEMEN

Next-Of-Kin To Be Told Of Work

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON. Dec. 10.

Within the next few days, the next-of-kin of more than 7000 New Zealand servicemen and servicewomen who died in. World War II will receive a letter from the Secretary for Internal Affairs telling them of the work which has been done by the Imperial War Graves Commission to mark with individual headstories their graves in cemeteries established by the commission in all parts of the world.

Announcing this today, the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr Anderton) expressed the hope that it would be a source of great comfort to the relatives to know that the graves of those who had paid the supreme sacrifice had been thus permanently and fittingly commemorated. “Though all care has been exercised to ensure that the letters are dispatched to the latest known addresses,” said Mr Anderton, ‘‘cases may occur where, because of change of residence or name, some next-of-kin do not receive a letter. In such instances, I advise the next-of-kin to write to the Secretary for Internal Affairs, Wellington, if, after a reasonable time, no letter has reached them.”

Mr Anderton said that though the commission had now largely completed the task of establishwar cemeteries, the graves of some New Zealand servicemen and servicewomen still remained to be provided with commemorative headstones. The commission was pressing on with this work and as further notifications were received from it,, the next-of-kin concerned Would be advised. » •