HONOUR FOR FALLEN

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 February 1947, Page 3

HONOUR FOR FALLEN

ROLL UNVEILED AT GREYMOUTH ' AERO CLUB CEREMONY In the presence of a large gathering of relatives of airmen who paid the supreme sacrifice, and friends and members of the Greymouth and West Coast United Aero Club, a Roll of Honour perpetuating the memories of the members of the club who lost their lives on active service in World War II was unveiled at an impressive ceremony in the Aero Club’s rooms 1 yesterday afternoon. The roll, which was presented to the club by Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Shallcrass, .of Greymouth, is of oak and under a coat of arms of the Royal New Zealand Air Force bears the names of the men whose memory it perpetuates, as follows: F/Lt. A. 8.Baird, Pte. P. Beban P/O. K. J. Coakley, F/Lt. C. H. Douglas, P/O. H. K. A. Drummond, F/O. D. A. Goulden, F/O. G. A. Green, F/O. S. D. L. Hood, L.A.C. M. D. Knight, L.A.C. J. L. McFadyen, P/O. H. R. Mitchell, F/Lt. F. N. Shallcrass. The president of the Greymouth Aero Club, Mr. E. M. Good, extended a welcome to the relatives of the men whose names are inscribed on the roll and invited the Mayor, ‘Mr. F. A. Kitchingham to perform the unveiling. “They went and gave their livfes—it is unnecessary for me to say more,” stated Mr. Kitchingham, in the course of his remarks. He added all should remember that they had a duty tp see that not only in club activities, but in their general lives, the torch handed on by the fallen, continued to be carried.

The Mayor and other speakers referred to the proud war record of the club and the splendid services given by its members. Mr. O. McLean, president of the Greymouth branch of the Returned Services Association, Group Captain D. J. Scott and Mr. B. I. Cummings, president of the West Coast United Aero Club were the speakers. Each of the next-of-kin is to be presented with a mounted photograph of the Roll of Honour. Visitors were present from various parts of the South Island, and included Mrs. F. N. Shallcrass,. of Nelson, widow of Ft. Lieut. F. N. Shallcrass, whose parents presented the roll. Mrs. Coakley presented . the club with a framed photograph of P/O. K. J. Coakley, which will be hung in the club room.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, Mr. N. Shallcrass, on behalf of Mr. and Mrs. Shallcrass, senr., invited the guests to afternoon tea, which was served in the hangar.