“Gone West”

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 1423, 19 June 1936, Page 4

“ Gone West”

PASSING REGRETTED.

N.Z.R.S.A. TRIBUTE,

A fitting tribute o those who served their Empire and country and have passed on was paid by delegates to the annual conference of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association which opened in Wellington yesterday, when reference was made to those who have “gone west” during the year.

“The year which afforded us tho opportunity of joining in the rejoicings of tho British Empire for the occasions of the jubilee of King George V. and Queen Mary called upon us to share tho grief of that Empire and every other country of the world on the passing of his Most Gracious Majesty,” the report of the executive states. QHis reign was perhaps one of the most momentous in the history of Great Britain. Within its limits we find scientific and inventive progress greater than in any similar period. The advance of education brought with it under his sympathetic guidance improved social conditions that must in the long run spell for the happiness of our nati n. To us of the British Empire he was really the first of ur kings seen in the Dominions, while the wonders of the wireless have enabled him to speak to us personally. He endeared himself to all by his manly bearing and by liio intense interest in his people of all classes and whereever scattered in the world. As soldiers many of as saw him in both England and France during that war that increases tho importance of his reign in our history, and incidentally gavo birth to this association. The kindly and anxious interest he exhibited or tho soldier then was continued when tho war concluded and tc tho date of his death he remained the patron in chief of the British Empire Service League. “Grieving for a lost king, it is happy that wo can rejoico in a new mo resembling his father in so many of his excellent qualities and adding many others of his own. As tho Prince of Wales of world-wide popularity aid respect, he is the patron of our xssociation, and it is hoped that we shall continue to possess that privilege and honour.

“Another loss to the Empire and to New Zealand ox-servieomen in particular was the death of Admiral of the Fleet, Lord Jellicoe, G.C.8., 0.M., G.C.V.0., on November 20, 1935. Lord and Lady Jellicoe were greatly respected in New Zealand during tho period of oftico of Lord Jellicoe as Governor-General. On return to Britain, Lord Jellicoe’s interest in ex-ser-vicemen, which had always been outstanding in New Zealand, resulted in his becoming, on tho death of Earl Haig, the grand President of the British Empire Service League, and until ill health intervened, the President of the British Legion. “A further death, of one of Britain’s war leaders, Lord Beatty, occurred in March, 193 G. A message of condolence with Lady Beatty and her family was sent by tho Dominion President to Lord Borodale, who succeeds his father. “The committee feels that it should record here tho death of Sir Francis Bell, P.C., G.C.M.G., on March 13, 1936. His work for tho soldier during the war and his continue... interest in the ex-serviceman and his welfare ooth as a private citizen and as a Minister of the Crown will ever be gratefully remembered.”

Reference was also made to the death of Lord Allenby by the Dominion President (the Hon. W. Perry, M.L.C.). The delegates observed two minutos’ silence as a tribute to the memory of those mentioned.