WAR MEMORIALS

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 4591, 17 May 1922, Page 4

WAR MEMORIALS

AT LONGUEVAL AND LE QUESNOY. INTERESTING inforaiation. (Per Press Association.) Wellington, May 15. Interesting information has been received by the Minister of Defence (Sir R. Heaton Rhodes) regarding the erection of battle memorials in France. The High Commissioner ( (Sir James Allen) advises that a contract lias been signed for the erection of battle memorials at Longuevalval, at tho site where the three roads meet. After careful consideration and consultation., decision has been reached regarding the inserpitions to be engraved on the memorials at Longueval and Lo Qnesnoy. The memorial for Longueval comprises a cohimn standing on a projecting base in which provision is made for four panels. On tho front column itself will bo engraved tho words: “In honour of men of tho New Zealand Divis-* ion; first battle of the Somme, 1916,” and this will bo reproduced in French on the back of the column. For the front panel, Air A. R. Fraser, the New Zealand sculptor, has made an exquisite design surrounding the words “New Zealand.” The words are set in a laurel wreath, supported by a crossed taiaha and framed in a panel with a design recalling a Maori carving. On the back panel will be engraved the words: “New Zealand Division—Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, Otago.” On one side of the panel will be the following sentcncetonce: “The New Zealand Division, after gaining this position as their first objective, launched from it a successful attack on Flers, 15th September, 1916.” Tho words will be reproduced in French on the other side of the panel. At the base of the monument will bo engraved in English and French, the phrase: “From the uteirmost ends of the earth.”

Part of the Lest Qnesnoy Memorial is a has relief depicting the scaling of the walls of Le Qnesnoy by .men of the New Zealand Division. '•''or this the services of Ah- Fraser have boon utilised, and bo lias prepared a model which Sir James Allen considers a very fine design. It shows the large figure of a winged female holding in her right hand a wreath r.f laurel above portion of the town wall, against which is erected a ladder, the ladder having upon it a number of Now cZaland soldiers in process .of scaling the wall. Air Fraser, having compelled the model, tho remainder of the work will be entrusted to a French sculptor as a delicate compliment to our ally.- AL Desrilelles has been selected to undertake the work', he having been recommended by M. Vincent, Mayor of Le Qnesnoy and Minister of Public Works in the French Government. M. A’ineent has been very helpful to the New Zealand authorities in securing the concent of the French military authorities fo rtho uso of part of the town wall in tho memorial scheme. Tho inscription for the Le Quesnoy will he “In honour of men of New Zealand, through whoso valour the town of Lo Quesnoy was restored to France, 4th November 1913.” This will be engraved on one side of the sculpture, and will be reproduced in French on tho other side o ftlie balustrade to he erected. On the side of the moat opposite to that in which the sculpture will be erected will be engraved in English and French the phrase: “From the uttermost ends of the earth.”