LOCAL MEMORIAL TO DEAD AIRMEN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22657, 7 June 1948, Page 4

LOCAL MEMORIAL TO DEAD AIRMEN

An immediate response was forthcoming from veterans of No. 30 Squadron and Servicing Unit, R.N.Z.A.F., at their annual reunion in Gisborne on Saturday evening, to a suggestion that some form of memorial be established for members of the squadron who were kilied in operations in the Pacific. The proposal was made by Mr. J. Holdsworth following the honouring of the toast to absent comrades. He reminded the gathering that, as Mr. Murray Upton hacl said when proposing the toast, a number of men of the squadron had been lost when the unit was on operations in the Pacific. The surviving members were scattered in all parts of New Zealand, but they all looked upon Gisborne as the focus of their unit interests. It was therefore fitting, he thought that some memorial to their fallen comrades should be established here. He suggested that a plaque could be designed and sunk in the principal runway at the Gisborne aerodrome. • The memorial proposal was taken up with interest, and representatives of the various groups present offered suggestions as to the best means of giving the idea practical shape. It was finally agreed, or, the recommendation of Squadron-Leader Noel James, a former commander of the unit, that the Gisborne reunion committee should consult the Mayor, Mr, N. H. Bull, regarding the most fitting form Contributions were taken immediately. The sum of E 25 was subscribed within the space of the few minutes and handed over to the resident committee.