“LEST WE FORGET”

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 158, 30 March 1922, Page 6

“LEST WE FORGET”

ANTARCTIC HEROES’ DEATHS CAPTAIN SCOTT MEMORIAL SERVICE Yesterday was the tenth anniversary of the death in Antarctica of Captain Robert Falcon Scott, R.N., one of the great-hearted explorers of the Empire, who gave his life in the interests of scientific research in the south polar continent of which the world knows so little. His splendid life and his tragic death appealed to the whole of the civilised world. Inanimate memorials to him have been erected in many places, but there are some with sufficient enthusiasm to arrange a living memorial. There was such a memorial in Wellington yesterday. _ It took the form of a religious service held in the hall of tee Dominion Farmers’ Institute at midday, under the auspices of the. Wellington branch of the Navy League. Among those present were representatives of Parliament, the Navy League, City Council, Harbour Board, Red Cross Society, and many other institutions in Wellington, all manifesting a sincere appreciation of the purpose of tho gathering. Apologies were read from His Excellency the Governor-Gen-eral. the Prime Minister, Mr. T. M. Wiltord, and others, expressing regret at their inability to be present. The chairman (Mr. ft G- Harkness) said that it was well in the busy life they led to pause occasionally and remember tee great, heroia deeds luf those who bad passed away, “lest we forget.” Though it was not for teem all to emulate such _ deeds, they could perhaps gain something by following in the paths these heroes had trod. After the hymn, “Lead, Kindly Light,” had been sung, Canon Feilden Taylor read a portion of the Anglican burial service and offered up prayer, concluding with tho recital qf the Lord’s Prayer, in which all present devoutly joined. Canon Taylor said that it was a great privilege to be called upon to address s.uch a meeting. It was not an occasion for empty compliments and platitudes. It was an honour just to sit quite still —and think of those three men waiting for death in tlie ice. ' To visualise the scene; —the three of them, with death knocking at the door, and them ready and unafraid. It was a great picture! There was that sort of courage that men had on the battlefield, which was very fine, but a far finer courage was needed to wait death’s slow coming, with no alternative. The precious gift of Hfb was given to all—it was each and everjrone’s to do with it whnt they would. Yet whatever they did individually, they could not but be roused and stirred by the example or such men as Scott, who lived nobly, and died even more nobly. In the Antarctic, at Hut Poiiit, were graven the following wbrds. which would ever keep in memory the deeds of Scott and his men:—“To Strive, te Seek, to Find, and Not te Yield.” What an epitaph! How well it summed up Scott’s life. Lfet teem see how the four objects applied to Scott. “To strive”—te strive gallantly in an enterprise for the honour of his country. Dr his diary appeared among the last lines: “We are giving pur lives in this enterprise for the honour of our country.” . To strive! It was a strenuous word, but the Empire had been enriched by the efforts of those who were prepared to lead strenuous Jives. Scott _ was known ns an. idle boy, and all his life he had to strive against his own idleness. Those with fortitude enough to witness his work knew how •-'ell he strove—to the end. “To seek” to seeic in spite of discomfort, danger and difficulties immeasurable. Reading his diary, one was struck by the relativeness of discomfort which might be endured. Theirs was a discomfort so dire that no English word could express it. How hard to realise poor Scott’s feeling on reaching the Pole to find that Amundsen had got there in front of him—to find Amundsen’s flag flying there. Still, bravely bearing up, he had comforted himself with tee thought that he was the first Englishman to reach the Pole. “To find.” Probably the most trying thing of all was the journey back from the Pole. They had 850 miles to walk, and believed they could do it. Poor Evant, was the first to go. He dropped in liis tracks, and died. Oates was the next. The world would never forget Oates! So that the others could have more food, he walked out of the hut, and was never seen again. They had remembered that they might have to anticipate death, and for that purpose carried opium tablets, but the three decided that to take them would not be the right thing to do. so, even when a successful return became impossible, they simply decided to wait for death. Scott’s last words were: “The great God has called me. I take comfort that I die in peace with the world and myself. I am not afraid!” So Scott and his men lay down there in the whiteness of tee Antarctic world, at peace for ever and ever. The singing .of the hymn r “Abide With Me,” and tee pronouncing of tee Benediction, closed a most simple and impressive service.