MEMORIAL TABLET.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLII, Issue 1730, 4 February 1921, Page 5

MEMORIAL TABLET.

UNVEILED AT KLMBOLTON. CEREMONY AT THE SCHOOL. '• (Special to the ‘Times.’') Kimbolton’s tribute to the name and memory of the school’s ex-pupils who fought in the Groat War, took tangible form yesterday afternoon, when a memorial tablet was unveiled at the school. The Hon. D. H. Guthrie, M.P. for Oroua and Minister of Lands, performed the ceremony in the presence of an assemblage of ladies, gentlemen and children drawn from a wide district. Nature —hill and valley and tree and lawn —was at her best.

Mr M. Calder, chairman of the School Committee, presided, and proved a most efficient looker of the proceedings. The chairmai) said this was a red-letter day in the history of most of them, and they could hope and pray they would never again be called on to go through a similar ceremony. He asked the Hon. D. H. Guthrie to address the gathering. Mr Guthrie said it was fitting they should commemorate the fact that so many of their sons, the representatives of the Empire, had obeyed the call of duty and had gone forth to fight for the protection and safety of the Empire. Because of the brave fight these lads had made, they all could now meet under their own vine and fig-tree, none daring to make them afraid. When they remembered how little had separated them from being placed under the tyrants’ heel, they must feel that a higher power than themselves had come to their assistance. When they remembered that this little country had sent 110,000 to 112,000 men to the front, they must also not forget the work of those at home to maintain the boys in the firing line. Mr Guthrie paid deep tribute to the boys of thd Kimbolton school whose names v were on the tablet, who had so swiftly responded to the call, of the Empire. He also referred to’ the work which had been done and was being done by the Government and the people of the Dominion for the soldiers. The Reparation Department had given first attention to the wounded and married men, and these having been provided for, they were now assisting the others to settle upon the land or to take up other occupations. Those going on the land viere helping to break up new country and bring it into use, thus increasing the production of the country. The Department had had 78,000 ( returned men pass through their hands. Of these, about 19,000 had been provided with homes, at'a cost of £22,000,000. In spite of what pessimists had said, he felt sure the country would not lose by this. Other returned men were being trained for trades or professions, and helped in other ways, at a cost of about £6,000,000. Added to what the Government had done, the people had voluntarily subscribed £6,000,000 for the benefit of tlje soldiers. The Department had taken special care of the tubercolosls men and the amputees, having officers specially detailed to look after them, so that everything possible would be done for them. Regarding the soldiers settled upon the land, the Government had taken steps to help them through the strenuous times Immediately ahead. They were not going to press these soldiers for repayment of loans and payment of interest. As showing the stamina of the men who had settled upon the land, less than 5 per cent, had proved unfitted for the land, of that record there was no call to be ashamed. (Applause;) Cr L. T. McLean (chairman of the Kiwitea County Council) said the Government had done very well for the returned soldiers, but the soldiers deserved very well of the Government and the country. (Hear, - hear.) The soldiers had done wondierfully well for New Zealand, and they deserved all and more than the people could do for them. (Hear, hear.) He had recently been in America, and to hear the way in which the Americans spoke of the New Zealanders made him proud to be a New Zealander. They told him the New Zealanders were the best soldiers In Prance, and that was something coming from America. Mr G. J. Harford briefly addressed the children of the school. He pointed to the example of the soldiers who, for no selfish reason, had gone to fight in the Empire's cause. He urged them to do their duty in life not for gain, but for love of it. Major W. H. McLean, M.C., thanked the’ people of Kimbolton on behalf of the returned soldiers of the district for this tablet to their comrades. He asked the gathering to remember that the boys who fought and those who died had fought and died in the best of all causes. The New Zealanders like all the colonial troops had formed a not unimportant part of the British Army, and he wanted them to think that it was a fine army. Not only on the field of battle, but in England and France the New Zealanders had made a good impression, and had left a good name behind them, and the people at home had every reason to be proud of their boys. Mr P. E. Lewis was very proud to say a few words on this occasion in honour of the boys whose names were on the tablet. They could not do too much for their soldiers. We had our freedom now and lived in the finest country in the world because these boys had stood between them and their enemies. (Applause.) 1 Mr Guthrie then unveiled the tablet. He referred to the fact that this memorial would ever be before the girls and boys who passed through the school. To those who, having done their duty and come back, he would say:

“you’ll live, you’ll live, young fellow, my lad. In the light of the evening star; In the wood note wild and the laugh of the child, And all sweet things that are.” And of those who would not come back, he would say: "And you’ll never die, my wonderful boy, While nature is noble and true; For all our beauty and hope and joy We shall owe to our brothers like you.” The assemblage then sung the National Anthem. Afternoon tea was provided by the ladies, who were accorded a vote of thanks. Mr Haydon, headmaster of the school, thanked the visiting speakers for their attendance and help. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs H. Mclntyre, H. E. Astbury and Roy Anderson, all exheadmasters of the school. , The tablet is in marble of medal-_

lion shape. It bears the inscription* “Roll of Honour. Ex-pupils of the Kimbolton School who served in the Great War, 1914-1918. In arduis fldelis.” The names of the honoured ones have been chiselled into the marble. Those of the boys who made the su- • preme sacrifice are in gold, the others in black. Following is the list: — Jno. Arbuckle, Harold AStbury, v ♦Horace Astbury, ‘Stuart Baddeley, Tom Burne, Phil. Bryce, Staf. Bainbridge, Wal. Browne, Clif. Browne, Clif. Bell, Wm. Bell, Jack Bell, Aleck. Bell, Fritz Booking, C. BainbridgO, Col. Bailey, H. Booking, D. W. Banks, Nor. Brazier, Tawa Carter, Wm. Clap. ;) ham, Louis Christensen, ‘Wal. Carruthers, Doris Crabbe, Geo. Davis, Chas. Dick, D. Edney, *Bob. Evans< Jas. Evans, Eric Fowler, Jack Gerke, Syd. Gould, C. H. Hewett, Claude Hancox, Fred. Hawthorne, Hugh Hawthorne, Fred. Healey, Bert Healey, Pat. Haggerty, Roy Henderson, Roy Isherwood, Har. Jackson, E. Jensen, ♦Ted. Jackson, ‘Jim. Knox, V. Lingard, Robt. Haythorne, Al. London, Clar. London, Dick Martin, Robt. McDermott, Jno. McMurtrle, C. L. Mo . Dermott, Geo. Mcßeth, Matt. Nesdale, Pr. Nesdale, Jack Parsons, Ed. Palmer, Jack Pawelka, Rod. Rowlea, Hugh Redpath, Jack Richardson, At, Richardson, Hy. Reid, Malt. Richardson, *CI. Richardson, Wal. Reeves, ♦Doug. Robertson, Fred. Vick, At, Webster, Al. Webster; *A. WlshnowV ski. P. A. Lingard. ♦Letters of gold.