A LONELY ANZAC

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11949, 20 May 1933, Page 9

A LONELY ANZAC

MEMORIAL IN PETERBOROUGH MINSTER.

In Petorborougn ni England, Auzac. Day is associated with a memorial bronze in Peterborough Minster to tho first Auzae to die on English soil. Last year the Mayor of Peterborough. agreed to lay a wreath, on behalf of tho Commonwealth Government on the memorial. "Writing of the ceremony, the “Peterborough Advertiser” said that behind it lay on'-’ of the rao.st moving and pathetic stories of the war. The wreath, was a fervent expression of th© deep feeling of sympathy aroused among citizens of all ranks ipr the Australian lad who was dying of wounds in a railway carriage at Peterborough—and ultimately did die—-aud was laid, to rest and commemorated by the sorrowing and grateful city. Nowadays the tension felt in the middle months of 1916 ©annul b© appreciated by a younger generation. \\ e were not doing well —indeed, we were doing badly. The Dominions were freely and feverishly pouring their brilliant sons ’int© the- battle-fields. All England was aglow with pride of these battalions. Gradually the wounded of iffi© Dominions mingled with the wounded of England in tho hospitals of the Mother Country. The first batch cf wounded Australians— Auzucs —in a Red Cross tram, came through Peterborough station. On? young follow was dying <d hi’ wound--.

It, was Saturday, July 29. 1916. He was Sergeant G. T. Hunter (503) ; cf the 10th Corps, Australian Forces, who had been badly wounded in the spine in the Battle of I’ozieres. At Peterborough Infirmary everything )X)3sible was done for him, hut it seen that he had not long to live, and lio died on the. following Monday morning.

The “Advertiser” too!-; the matter dp, and afforded a channel for tlie expression of the people. As far as was known there was no trace or <us father or mother. He had ueen brought up by an uncle.' bad volunteered early in lb© war, and bad been wounded at Gallipoli. He recovered, and was-sent to France, where he received the wound which "'as to bring bim to a lonely but an Imperially honoured grave. “Honouroil” is an inadequate expression for ih e wave of overwhelming sympathy which the death of this lonely Anzac ocasioned. Such was the intensiiy cf feeling that ill ten days IGO guineas wove contributed in small amounts a> provide a- fitting memorial on. tli© nrave and a mural bronze i' L Peterborough Ministry.

The Rev. A. G. Barley wrote:—

“ONE OF A GLORIOUS THRONG.’

Blood of om- blood, son of our race. Imperial and strong. He came iu all his youth's lair grace— One of a glorious throng Of heroes from the Southern land Linked in our Empire's chain; One of the famous Anz/ao band

From tho far distant mam. With British pride in British soil Amidst our own dear dead Wo laid him freed from warrior's

toil, In a true warrior’s bed. His tomb, as long as'it shall stand,

Shall keep alive his worth And link this spot of Motherland With those who sent linn forth

Xho memorial bronze was unveiled on December 15. 1917. It is 3ft. long and it weighs a- quarter of a ton. Inset are the arms cf the Commonwealth and the figure of an AnzUe is hacked by the Union Jack. The inscription read's

•f-Xliis tablet is dedicated in the faith and tear of Cod, by Mlowcitizens of the Empire for which he gave his life, to the memory of Thomas Hunter, of Kurrii Kurrn, New South. Wales, sergeant in the Tenth Corps, Australian Expeditiouarv Force, who died on Monday. July SI, 1910, in Peterborough Infirmary of wounds, received in France. >