BATTLEFIELD MEMORIALS

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 57, 8 March 1920, Page 7

BATTLEFIELD MEMORIALS

TWO IN FRANCE; TWO IN

BELGIUM.

In reference to a letter which appeared in The Post last week relating to the matter of New Zealand war memorials on the European and Turkish battlefields, it is learned that the Imperial War Graves Committee at Home controls matters connected with war memorials. In order to carry on, this body appointed a Military Advisory Committee to deal with military aspects arising out of applications for permission to erect memorials on battlefields. The United Kingdom, the Dominions, and India were represented on the committee, and Major Westma-cott was appointed to act'for New Zealand.

Ifc appears that the War Graves Commission approved of the recommendations of that committed, including the applications from New Zealand for memorials at four sites in Kurope, viz. : At the Somme (Factory Corner), Jlessines (The Square), at the Gravenstafel Crossroads, and at Le Queenoy. Other nominated places were Anzac and Palestine, though it is not known what has 'transpired in this latter respect. The Belgian Government has generously undertaken that certain places shall be reserved for this purpose without restriction. The French Government has not undertaken to acquire the sites but will approve what is requested, and pass a decree giving them the status of public memorials, but leaving it to" the committee to acquire the actual properties.