GUARDS’ TRIBUTE

Hokitika Guardian, 21 May 1937, Page 7

GUARDS’ TRIBUTE

MEMORY OF KING GEORGE V. FORMER COLONEL-IN-CHLEE LONDON, May 1(3. Well-known in New Zealand as the originator of “Titania’s Palace,” Si* Nevile Wilkinson has completed a memorial in the Guards’ Chapel, Wellington Barracks, to the late King George V, It was to these barracks that the New Zealand Coronation Con tingent marched on arrival beloie leav ing lor Pirbright. The memorial comprises the altar an' 1 sanctuary pavement of the chapel, completes the scheme of mosaic pave,men that was begun some years ago, and carries to its culmination the Byrantin decoration of the chapel begun in IS7o. Beyond the Coinmun on rail the firs 1 step within the sanctuary bears o its rise the simple, inscription ‘‘Kim George V.,” deeply carved in gilde letters on the black marble of the ste and plainly visible from the centi" parts of the nave. Above, the tread of the step has in scribed along its whole length the con memorative words:—‘‘The altar am sanctuary pavement were given by al ranks past and present of the Brigad of Guards to the glory of God and i memory of tlueir Colonel-in-Chief. | ‘T3ik> mosaic, of the pavement beyom marble step embodies three sym bolic panels, the Kyrie symbol in the centre and on each side a peacock he neath a vine. The altar ha s a richly decorated mosaic front in which th Cross it the central theme. T o alta table is supported at its corners o marble pillars forming two recesses on the panels of which the Tree o Life is depicted. Much of the work ha been carried out in lapis lazuli, mala ehite and precious marbles.

Some years ago, Sir Nevile W lkinsoundertook the work of desigmng t’ pavement of the sanctuary and t’ choir. He spent six years in paintin a design to scale. This was pho+c graphed, and from these photograph the work of paving has been carrie out. Each guardsman contributed time'' pence toward the paving of the alta and sanctuary.