SACRED MEMORIES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 13 November 1924, Page 6

SACRED MEMORIES.

NEW ZEALAND’S PART

IN THE GREAT AVAR

LORD JELLICOE’S TRIBUTE

CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 11. “Ceremonies such as this,” said Lord Jellicoe, in opening the Bridge of Remembrance to-day, “have been all too familiar to me during the four years that I have spent in this Dominion. This ceremony will live long in my memory, first of all because it is the last occasion on which as His Majesty’s representative in New Zealand I am honoured by being asked to do honour to New Zealand’s soldiers; and secondly, because of the immense assemblage which I see before me, an assemblage such as I have never . seen before on an occasion like this during my four years in the Dominion. A day like this, whilst it brings back many painful and sad memories to all hearts, does at the same time bring to those hearts a feeling of great pride in the achievements which New Zealand’s Expeditionary Force carried out during the Great 'War. I deeply regret the absence through illness of the Prime Minister, because I feel that in spelt a ceremony as this his absence is greatly to be deplored, and his presence would he very much appreciated—(hear, hear)—not only because of the high office which he holds in New Zealand, but also because he is the only 'Prime Minister who, aided by his colleagues in the National Government, shouldered responsibility during the war, .and still remains in office. (Hear, hear).'

“All war memorials that are erected have as their 'object a reminder to the people of what they signify, but of all the war memorials which I have seen I think this Bridge of Remembrance is especially designed to bring back to the hearts of those now living and to stimulate the hearts of those yet to come sacred memories couuected with the Great War, memories of those thousands who, inspired by loyalty, a determination to protect the weak, a determination to uphold the sacredness of treaties, to. protect their homes, and to save the honour of the Empire trod the bridge which this one replaces during the years of the Gp-eat War. The bridge will also recall memories of the most gallant deeds performed by the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, and will recall duty well done. It will recall that chivalry and splendid discipline of New Zealand’s soldiers, all of which culminated in that victory which, led our enemies six years ago today to sue for an armistice. The Navy saw on the historical: shores of Gallipoli what New Zealand soldiers were capable of doing. It was their prmlege to share in that wonderful record of of the will to. victory and of the refusal to admit defeat, for which Gallipoli will - ever be famous. ■-... ?

“This bridge will recall, too, memories of the. great suffering, anguish, and sorrow in the hearts of those who lost their loved ones. It recalls also the suffering of those thousands of New Zealand soldiers who came hack maimed, many incapacitated for life, and it is a reminder to do our duty to those bereaved for whom we feel such deep sympathy, and to those maimed soldiers who should be and who are Ne\y Zealand’s first care. (Applause). Gf ail parts of the Empire, I will not hesitate to say that nowhere are returned soldiers better, looked after or cared far, especially those maimed, than in this Dominion. (Applause). “Finally, this bridge is designed to bring to the children of this "generation and of all future generations, a reminder of whafc has been done to preserve to them freedom and safety. It should be, and no doubt will be, an inspiration to future generations to preserve unsullied that great reputation which was earned for New Zealand by her soldiers during the Great Wav. it will, I feel sure, be an incentive, to everyone in this Dominion to preserve that great unity of Empire to* which the Allies so much owed their victory and to see that in future the British Empire, as in the past, stands for justice and foir freedom.”