SOUTHLAND SOLDIERS' MEMORIAL

Evening Star, Issue 18173, 13 January 1923, Page 2

SOUTHLAND SOLDIERS' MEMORIAL

WINNING DUNEDIN DESIGN. A VERBAL DESCRIPTION. Messrs L„ D. Coombs and J, H. White (Dunedin) •were awarded the first prize among twenty designs submitted for the Southland soldiers’ memorial.

The description submitted with the design was as under : In conceiving this design for a memorial to our glorious dead several points immediately suggest themselves. “Firstly, tho monument must be large, massive, and strong; big in feeling like the men who nobly gave their lives for ns. Secondly, it should towor up to a commanding height, carrying its meaning far and wide and forming a landmark for miles around. Thirdly* it should have a definite front facing Dee street, for from here the majority of people will see it. Bearing these points in mind, we will first regard the layout of tho site. A large place has 'been designed so that there will t>e ample space fox large gatherings on anniversary days. This will he approached by three main ways, the principal being on tho main axis and the two subsidiary ones from tho augles of the site. These, while forming adequate approaches, will make interesting vistas for the passer-by. A fourth path at tho rear leads into tho gardens, playing fields, etc. •Skirling the she is another path, from which one would get undisturbed views and be able to meditate in comparative seclusion. Tho place will be flanked on cither side by three German guns, trophies of tho war. These will bo recessed in niches in tho low hedge which surrounds the place, and the whole will >bo framed by_a background of suitable native trees, giving pleasant, 000 l glimpses through thoir green branches to tho pedestrian. “The monument itself towers up 50ft in height, and stands on a broad 1 platform giving space for those officiating at any ceremony and for the placing of wreaths and palms. On this raised platform stands tho high base on which are inscribed tho names of our great dead. On the main front the base projects and forms an altar for_ tho two urns, emblems of sacrifice, which flank the panel commemorating tho deeds o'f Sergeant Dick Travers, V.O. Above this is another panel filled with symbolical trophies of victory and cast in bronze. Above this again the shaft sweeps upwards towards the heavens, the centre panel receding towards the summit, and on this would be engraved the battles in which tlie men of tho south took part. Abovo the centre .panel stands the keynote of the whole design —the figure of a lone soldier standing with his back to the wall and symbolising the steadfast bravery and serene courage of our men. There will be no soft curves in this figure; growing out of tho stone, he will appear a ragged fighter, and as such, dear to our hearts, we have enfolded him on either side with protecting buttresses of masonry, on which are carved tho shields of the Homeland. Tho figure is Bft 6in high, and will be hewn out of several stones to the height of the breast and tho face, etc., from one block.

“ Construction.—Tho main fabric will be of reinforced concrete covered with slabs of Bluff granite, as shown in tho section. The shaft will have alternate courses of 2in and Sin stone. Dimensions: Height over all, 50ft; platform, 56ft square; base. 16ft square; base of shaft, 9ft 6in ; width of place, 80ft; depth of place, ,100 ft over all. The estimate of monument, including labor, wonts out at £8.256.’’