REMEMBER THE FALLEN

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 70, 16 December 1919, Page 4

REMEMBER THE FALLEN

MOUNT COOK ROLL OF HONOUR ADDRESS BY GENERAL RICHAKDSON Liko other schools ot the Dominion, Mount Cook Boys' School is proud of tho several hundred of its "old boys" who fought in the Allied iause during tho war, nnd yesterday afternoon a ceremony was held in tho school grounds at which the Roll of Honour was read to tho pupils. Of tho +58 "old boys" of tho school who went to the v-nr, 64 wero killed in action, 78 wero vounded, one was reported missing, and <no was captured by the enemy. Tho 'hildren from tho girls' school wero also present at tho ceremony, at which tho principal speaker was Brigadier-General G. S. Richardson. In opening tho proceedings, Mr. W. B. I Fuller, chairman of tho C'chool Committee, said the Eoll of Honour would servo as a perpetual memorial of what this "old boys" had done on behalf of tin. Empire. Ho tusked that tho names of all old scholars who had fought in the war should bo handed to the school authorities, as it was desired that tho list should be made as complete as possible. Tho children having sung Kipling's "Lest Wo Forget," Genera! Richardson delivered his address. He pointed out to tho scholars that tho British flag would not bo flying over tho school had it not been for tho valiant deeds which tho Now Zealand and Allied soldiers had dono in tho war. Ho reminded his hearers that early in tho war, in Belgium and in Serbia, he had seen hundreds of little boys and girls walking iriles away from their homes to get away from the bullets, tho bursting shells, and all the horrors of war. They should, remember that tho greatest honour was due to those soldiers, especially those "old boys" of tho school, who had died for them. "There are very few of you hern to-day who have not lost brothers, sisters, uncles, and soma even fathers, and no one sympathises with you moro than the soldier himself," said General Richardson. "Wo remember them nnd wo honour them, but I want you right through life never to forget when you seo tho British (lag flying in New Zealand to remember tho peoplo who helued to keep it. there." The British Empire was tho finest and the biggest .Empire in tho world, and he. nr K t& N his "hearers to be proud of it and to act as (rood citizens throughout their lives. On their habits, their character, and the.life they led, depended what sort of a country.New Zealand would bo in the future Manv of them would perhaps rise to hiirh positions in tho world, and they must trv to live up to tho great name of the New Zealand soldiora, who, wherever thev. went, had behaved like gentlemen, and had won a great reputation for tho Dominion. They could get nothing without hard work, and without doing their best, and tho.y should take part in all the cames and sports they could to mako themselves strong, for they would not mako their mark in the world unless thev had education, physical fitness, and high character. He hoped that they would remember the fallen "old boys" for ever, and bear in mind what tho departed soldiers had dono for them. "I wish you all success," concluded General Richardson, "and hope you will keep up this dav for all lime." Mr. T. Forsyth, chairman of the Wellington Education Board, said'he trusted 'that tho ceremony would be made an annual one, in order that they/'might remember what had been dono for them by the fallen soldiers. "I hope that tho Government will set aside a day—l don't mean a holiday, because that would not bo a fitting way to perpetuate the dying sacrifice of so many—but I mean a Holy Day. on which we can call to mind tho deeds of those who did so much for us," remarked Mr. Forsyth. He hoped that there would be no more wars, and that thev would always aim at trying to mako international conflicts impossible That could only be done by all of them "playinglhe game," and thus helping to wipe away the distrust and discord that was 60 unhappily nft'licting tho world to-day. Mr. C. Bray, headmaster of the Boys' School, then read the roll of honour, the children standing at attention while this was being- done. Mr. Bary also : addressed' a few words to tho children. "Our comrades' task has ended," ho 6aid. "and may they ever rest in peace." The hvmn~"Now tho labourer's Task Is O'er" was then sung by the gathering, after which Trumpeter Hester sounded "The Last Post." Tho ceremony concluded with the National Anthem.