MEMORIAL CHAPEL

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 121, 22 May 1920, Page 6

MEMORIAL CHAPEL

MORE INTERESTING TROPHIES PHILIP GIBBS'S PRAISE OF NEW ZEALANDERS. (FROU.OUR OWN CORRESPOND!!!!.) LONDON, 25th March. Since the R-ev. 0. F. Askew (Vicar of St. Mark's, Wellington) made his appeal in The Times for funds on behalf of the suggested memorial military chapel of St. George, he has received donations totalling £510. In a letter received by Mr. Askew, Admiral Boyle offers as an appropriate gift for the chapel two White Ensigns which were flown by H.M.S. Chelmer and Colne, two destroyers which were out at the Dardanelles from start to finish, and so have particular association with New Zealunders. Another Dardanelles trophy, offered by Lord Wemyss, is the fia£ which flew from the Euryalus. General Sir Julian Byng and General Pershing have also promised suitable gifts. General Sir J. Babington, who commanded the New Zealand - ers"in.South Africa, has given an intereating Boer trophy.. Sir Philip Gibbsj the well-known war correspondent, has written' a, column in the Daily Chronicle in support of the Memorial Chapel. Of the 17,000 Dominion men who gave their lives in tho great struggle, Sir. Philip says: — "They were a splendid crowd of youths, those New Zealanders. There was some quality in their character which -won the affection, as well as the admiration, of all who came in touch with them. They wero not only good soldiers—their gallantry and endurance were proved to the very -.heights of human courage—but they were good fellows, and the humblest of them was a gentleman, and had the tr.ue touch of knighthood, with a fine simplicity of mind and manners, a boyish sense of humour, and a reverence for old ideals.

"They seemed nearer to us in blood and outlook than anrv other troops .from beyond the seas, and in physique these sturdy, fresh-complexioned boys seemed the best, type of all that we like to think is English. ... They'must not be forgotten. England, surely, must pay tack to them as fair as a living remembrance of great service and immense and most tragic sacrifice can ever pay back, a little of that loyalty which brought them to our side. Well, here is the ohance, and to-day.

"The Rev. C. F. Askew has'been stumping the . country,. with faith and enthusiasm.' So far he has not obtained more than small sums collected after church services' and* lectures, and he hates thfe idea of going b"ack to New Zealand with a story of failure. He ought not to fail.. Already, apart from money, .he has begun to build his vision. The,chapel is designed in beauty. He has even stones for it from old English. _ Cathedrals, which will bind it in spirit with our old shrines.

"Many Army Commanders have given him flags and historical trophies, which the New Zealanders will honour. The other day lie showed me the -standard or 'fanion,' used by Marshal Foch in 1918, whose silken folds were saluted by the armies of France in the months when the soldiers of Franc© were fighting their way to victory; with- tbe' New Zealanders, under G-eneral .Russell, 'strikitrg hard, quick blows in that last terrific phase, as I saw them and followed them."