CAVERSHAM PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Evening Star, Issue 18394, 1 October 1923, Page 4

CAVERSHAM PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

MEMORIAL WINDOW UNVEILED

Special services were held at the Cav ersham Proshvtrrinn Church yesterday to mark the mledication of the church, the dedication of a communion table and a baptismal font, and the- unveiling of a memorial window placed in tho church by Mrs S. J. Anderson to the memory of her nephew, Lieutenant Andrew Col qnhoun Boyes. who fell in the war. The Rev’ F. M. Beattie, pastor of the church, presided at the* morning service and had associated with him the Rev. D, Dutton. Tire First Battalion Band of the Otago Regiment, which was in charge of Sergeant Bailey, rendered selections, and the choir sang a Te Donm and also nn anthem. Mr Beattie rededicated the church, and dedicated the communion table. Amn'ig those present were Colonel Smith, Colonel Moir, Major Fleming, and Lieutenant Kcrnohan, representing the Otago Regiment, The following is a description of the memorial window: —The subject depicts a knight warrior, representing the young soldier who has given his life blood, bis all, for tho cause of Truth, Justice, and Freedom. Ho is kneeling before the Great King of Kings, Christ Himself, who is beckoning him to come to Him and receive the joy, the Crown of Life Eternal, which is being held by the Angel of Peace The soldier has removed his helmet, and around his head he wears a laurel wreath, significant of Victory over Death. In the foreground are depicted the poppies of France, synchronising with the words of that well-known hymn, ‘ From the Ground There Blossoms Red Life That Shall Endless Be.

The Rev, D. Dutton said that they had met together to dedicate to the glory of God and to tho memory of tho late Lieutenant Andrew Colquhoun Boyes a memo rial window, which was tho gift of Lieutenant Boyc-s’s aunt, Mrs Anderson, of Dunedin. Early in life Lieutenant Boy-c----had recognised that it was the duty of every citizen, ns far as hr; had oppor trinity, to servo his country, and to defend and promote her truest interests to the best of his ability. In his teens he had joined tho Caversham Company of tho First Battalion of Otago Rilles, in which he served as private and n.c.o . and had continued to serve with the old corps when it became tho 4th Regimen! of the Territorial Army of this dominion. Shortly before tho outbreak of the wa< lie had obtained his commission ns first lieutenant in the same unit, and when tho call cam© ho was among the first to volunteer for service in our Expeditionary Force, and went with the main body to Egypt, and thence to Gallipoli, and took part in tho groat military achievement of the landing on tho Peninsula. Ho re mained there and took part in the various actions which immortalised the Anzacs. until September, when he was invalided to England, suffering from serious concus sion, and was in hospital for several months. On May 1, 1916, ho went to France, and on the 15th of the same month, while in the trenches at Armentieres, fell a victim to a sniper's bullet, and his body lies in tho Bou Gum Cemetery. near by where he fell. Ho was said tn be tho first New Zealand officer to make the supreme sacrifice on tho western front. Ho was a scholar in the Sunday school of that church, later on a member of the Bible class, a valued officer of the Sunday school staff, and a member of the church. The integrity of bis character and tho amiability of his disposition made him beloved by all who were associated with him, while as a soldier he was modest, unassuming, keen tor service, a trustworthy comrade, and faithful unto death.

Continuing, Mr Dutton said: “ Though our glorious dead needed no memorials, wo whom they served and for whom they died needed them as an expression of reverent appreciation and of a desire that our children’s children in all ,succeeding generations should know what these 1 memorials stood for, and find in them nn ■ inspiration and an incentive to duty. We must complete their victory. The true , interests of our country, were rightcous- | ness, peaco. and prosperity.” i Mr Dutton concluded by calling upon Mrs Anderson to unveil the memorial. ; Sergeant-bugler Napier sounded the ‘Last ! Post.’ and the service closed with the Benediction and the National Anthem.