WARRIOR’S TRIBUTES

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 January 1928, Page 9

WARRIOR’S TRIBUTES

HOMAGE AT ABBEY TOMB MANY GIFTS LEFT < Reports that the Unknown Warrior’s tomb in Westminster Abbey has been recently opened and mourners’ gifts placed inside are not accurate. One problem which presented itself to the Abbey authorities soon after the public were able to make pilgrimage to the tomb was what to do with the gifts of jewellery and trinkets which were placed on the slab covering the Unknown Warrior’s grave. They included jewelled crosses and relics of precious metals, gold and silver medals and crucifixes. “For a time they were in charge of the dean’s verger,’’ a representative of “The Daily Chronicle’’ was informed at the Abbey. “In 1921 the temporary covering of the tomb was replaced by the present black marble slab, and it was decided that the relics should oe deposited within the tomb. “Accordingly a few headstones were removed and the tributes carefully placed beneath. The tomb has not been opened since.” During the years which have elapsed a further collection has slowly accumulated. These are kept in the undercroft with the other Abbey records, and it is not considered likely that the tomb will again be opened at some future date to receive them. In the undercroft is preserved one of the most touching collections of memorial tributes in the, country. Contained in this shrine within a shrine are all the cards which have been attached to the wreaths and flowers placed on the tomb of the Unknown Warrior —the inscriptions sent ( by statesmen and messages written by parents in humble circumstances lying side by side. There, too, are kept the regimental colours attached to wreaths sent by military units; nothing that can be preserved has been destroyed.