WAR MEMORIAL

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 172, 16 April 1932, Page 10

WAR MEMORIAL

Ceremony of Dedication To-morrow HANDING OVER TO CITY To-morrow the Wellington Citizens’ War Memorial will be dedicated and handed over to the city in the presence of the Governor-General and Lady Bledisloe. Uniformed representatives of the services, veterans of past wars, the next-of-kin of the fallen, and what is expected to be a very large assembly of the public, will attend and take part in the dignified, impressive ceremony that has been arranged. Four years ago this month the attention of the Wellington City Council became focused on the site where the memorial now stands. In April, 1928, the council had before it a recommendation that Quinton’s Corner should be rounded off to avoid traffic congestion as well as'for beautifying purposes. As a result of this proposal a more comprehensive scheme suggested itself to Councillor J. Aston, who submitted it to the then Mayor, Mr. G. A. Troup, and later discussed it with Colonel G. T. Hall, chairman of the War Memorial Committee. Undertaking Set on Foot. The many negotiations with the Government that followed were carried out by Mr. Troup, and with an ideal site definitely in view the memorial committee lent its full co-operation. Thus was set on foot the actual undertaking now on the eve of its final phase—the dedication and handing to the people of a symbol of war and sacrifice which is to be theirs for all time. To-morrow the ceremony will be performed by the Rt Rev. the Bishop of Wellington, Bishop Sprott and the proceedings will open at 2.30 p.m. The map published in an adjacent column shows the positions to be occupied by military and naval units dnd the various official parties. With its aid vantage points may be chosen. Positions have been allotted to the Navy, Territorials, Cadets, South African veterans, returned soldiers, and Legion of Frontiersmen, while accommodation has been reserved for disabled soldiers and returned nurses, also for 600 next-of-kin. Special Military Guard. At 1 p.m. a special military guard from Trentham will man the four sentry-posts on the memorial. The programme, printed copies' of which are to be distributed by Sea Scouts stationed outside the ropes, will open with the arrival of their Excel-' lencies. The Governor-General will be met by Major-General W. H. L. Sin-clair-Burgess, and Lady Bledisloe by the Mayoress. A Royal salute will be followed by an inspection of the guard of honour, provided by the Ist Battalion, Wellington Regiment His Excellency will be met by the Mayor, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, and the chairman of the War Memorial Committee, Colonel G. T. Hall, and official wreaths will be laid. In the hymn, "AU People That on Earth Do Dwell,” a choir of 100, under the baton of Mr. H. Temple White, will be accompanied by the Wellington Artillery Band. When the last verse of the hymn has been sung the 46th Psalm will be read by the Rev. H. D. Odell, of the Methodist Church, and Brigadier D. Macaulay, of the Salvation Army, will say the Lord’s Prayer/ Door to be Unveiled. An address will be delivered by his Excellency, after which the actual dedication of the memorial will be performed by Bishop Sprott, who will unveil the door leading to the interior of the memorial base. Speakers will address the assembly in the following order: —The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, Mr. G. A. Troup, Lieut.-Colonel H. E. Avery, president of the Wellington Returned Soldiers’ Association, and Colonel Hall, who will present the memorial to the Mayor. The Governor-General will then be asked by Colonel Hall to open the door of the memorial and place in a casket in the shrine the war records of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, 1914-1918. As this is being done the band will play the first movement of Schubert’s “Unfinished Symphony.” The Mayor will be presented with a monograph by a representative of the firm of architects who designed the memorial, Messrs. Grierson, Aimer, and Draffin. The hymn, “Lest We Forget,” will be sung by the choir, accompanied by the band, and the Benediction will be pronounced by the Rev. R. S. M atson, of the Presbyterian Church. The ceremony will be brought to a close by the sounding of “The Last Post” and “The Reveille,” by buglers of the Navy and Army, and the singing of the National Anthem.

MARCH THROUGH CITY

Parade of Returned Soldiers All retured soldiers —South African veterans, forces of the Allies, Imperial Forces, Australian Forces, all units of the N.Z.E.F., Legion of Frontiersmen—are being asked to parade at 1.30 p.m. to-morrow at the Central Fire Station. They will march .through Mercer Street, Willis Street, and Lainbton Quay, with bands, and will take up their allotted places immediately in front of the Citizens’ War Memorial. A special train will leave Upper Hutt at 12.50 p.m., stops at. Trentham. Lower Hutt, and Petone. and arriving in Wellington at 1.-17 p.m. Special arrangements also have been made for those coming from Eastbourne. Details can be supplied from the local branch of the R.S.A. office.