The Suez Statue

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 7062, 23 January 1933, Page 10

The Suez Statue

“EYES WERE DIMMED”

HOMAGE TO HONOURED DEAD

AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

“Australian hearts ached and Australian eyes were dimmed this afternoon when, amid tho strange surroundings of tho cosmopolitan and exotic city, Mr. W. M. Hughes unveiled in tEe Casino grounds tho magnificent memorial to Australian and New Zealand dead in the Near East,” writes J. A. Alexander, special representative of the Herald (Melbourne), from Port Said, under date November 23. “It was most appropriate that Mr. Hughes, on his way back from the League of Nations Assembly, should be commissioned by the Commonwealth and New Zealand Governments to perform this ceremony,” tho writer proceeds. “Tho memorial represents in bronze an Australian Light Horseman in the act of charging, with a New Zealand Mounted Rifleman in the ‘ready’ position oyer his wounded charger. It stands on a massive pedestal of Australian granite about 15ft. high, placed on tho Canal Bank. “It was an unfamiliar setting for so essentially an Australian ceremony. The luxuriant African trees and plains, bathed in the brilliant sunshine of the early Egyptian winter, and tho white Oriental buildings of Port Said—looking like marble mosques and palaces, but really stucco hotels and bazaars—made a fascinating picture. From every direction camo the shrill street cries, the strange sounds and smells of the Orient. “Tho gathering around the memorial was said to be the most notable ever seen at Port Said. King Fuad honoursoi Australia and New Zealand by sending his own personal representative. Tho Prime Minister of Egypt—the once notorious Sydkey PashaI—a 1 —a plump, elderly Egyptian with heavy, inscrutable eyes, was also present, attended by his Minister for War. “Tho British High Commissioner for Egypt (Sir Percy Loraine) arrived with Mr. Hughes, and was received by a guard of honour of picked men drawn from the Canal garrison. These were led to the spot by a splendid regimental band playing 'Smile, Smile, Smile,’ ‘Tipperary’ and other familiar wartime airs. A Soldier’s Prayer. “English, and Egyptian dignitaries were drawn up in front of the statue, with Mr. Hughes in tho place of honour. After the singing of ‘Oh God, Our Help in Ages Past,’ the Bishop of Egypt and the Sudan offered a prayer, quoting a composition found on tho body of a dead soldier. “The High Commissioner then asked Mr. Hughes to unveil the memorial. Mr. Hughes, in an eloquent speech, spoke of the wonder of men from the youngest nation of the earth coming to the most ancient land of all to capture cities like Jerusalem and Damascus, which in the ages of chivalry had defied tho most determined efforts of the Crusaders for centuries. “Tho Bishop of Egypt then said: ‘I dedicate this memorial to the Glory or God, and in memory of the members of the Australian Light Horso, the New Zealand Mounted Rifles, the Imperial Camel Corps and tho Australian Flying Corps who sacrificed their lives in Egypt, Palestine and Syria during the Great War.’ “Tho Benediction followed, and then tho shrill, thrilling notes of a trumpet sounding 'The Last Post’ summoned us to think in silence for one moment of tho .Australian and New Zealand dead. “We stood with uncovered heads in the blazing sun, a little band of mourners from tho youngest countries on tho earth, while around us, immeasurably remote from us in spirit and instinct, swarmed tho bedraggled descendants of somo of the greatest races of antiquity. The reveille awakened us from a sad reverie, and the Egyptian and English National Anthems concluded a ceremony which deeply moved every Australian present. Wreaths From Australia. “A groat number of official wreaths wore placed ou ' the memorial. Kin, Fuad’s representative placed a magnificent wreath of blood-red roses, tied with the Royal green ribbon of Egypt, then followed the High Commissioner, on behalf of the English Government, and Mr. Hughes, on behalf of tho Commonwealth Government. “The Port Said Memorial is evidence of tho genius of tho great Australian sculptor, the late Mr. Web Gilbert. A design submitted by tho sculptor was approved iu 1924. Mr. Web Gilbert died in tho following year, and iu .1926 arrangements were made with another eelobrated Australian sculptor, Sir Bertram Mackennal, to complete the work. Sir Bertram Mackennal died in 1931. “Mr. Hughes spoke in front of microphones, by means of which tho proceedings wero broadcast to Australia. Two days afterwards, when the Oronsay was nearly 1000 miles from Port Said, on tho voyage to Australia, Mr. Hughes received a cable from Australia stating that the broadcast had been successful.”