CHANUK BAIR

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 May 1925, Page 3

CHANUK BAIR

N.Z. MEMORIAL UNVEILED i (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) CONSTANTINOPLE, May 13. There was almost a gala day at Dardanelles and the Peninsula on the occasion of the unveiling of the Chanuk Bair memorial to the fallen New Zealanders, erected on Russell Top. Five hundred pilgrims, including 1 several . ex-combatants from everywhere in the Empire, arrived by the liner Ormonde. The Turkish authorities granted every facility*; and the Governors of Gallipoli and Chan.uk attended, the ceremony. A detachment of gendarmerie rendered honours. Carts throughout the peninsula had been requisitioned to transport the visitors. It was- a stiff climb from the Beach, and it was an odd sight to see springless vehicles of all descriptions being drawn by horses, donkeys and bullocks up a narrow trail. A couple of cars belonging to the War Graves Commission carried Sir James Allen, his daughter, Generals Godley and Russell and Lady Godley. Sir James Allen in his speech, sympathetically referred to the Turks who had recognised the graves as a sacred trust. General Godley unveiled the memorial, and in a'speech described the fighting during the dark days of 1915. General Russell eulogised the splendid qualities of the New Zealanders, and touchingly described the death of General Bauchop, who, when grievously wounded, had responded to General Russell’s effort to cheer him up, with ‘This is the end.” Then he paused, and a smile flickered over* his face, and he added: “And a jolly good end too!”

Chaplain Mullineux read the service, the “Last Post” was sounded, and so closed a simple service. Beautiful wreaths were laid on the monument by military and ex-service organisations. Several other cemeteries were visited notably the Beach Cemetery where Sir James Allen laid a wreath..

Sir James Allen entertained Turkish officials at tea on board the Ormonde later. The liner leaves for Constantinople to-morrow. EARL ASQUITH’S ESTIMATE LONDON, May 13. There was a great gathering at the Guildhall when the freedom of the city was bestowed on the Earl of Oxford and Asquith. In a remarkable speech, he paid a tribute to the outstanding personalities in British history. He said that, after it became his duty to unsheath the sword of Britain in the Great World War,'many of these were -present. There was an eager stir in the assembly when Earl Oxford proceeded to single out the names. The first mentioned was that of Earl Jellicoe, Earl Oxford saying: “No man more truly maintained the untarnished glories of the Navy than he.”

Earl Oxford then paid a tribute to Lord Haig, and concluded that he was going to place a great civilian with the sailors and soldiers. There was then another excited stir as Lord Oxford went on to refer to the provision—almost miraculous in its range and rapidity—of munitions and armoury to meet the wholly new exigencies. This, he said, would live in history as the unique achievement of Mr. Lloyd George. The only other names mentioned were Lord Kitchener and Sir James Cowans.