CEMETERIES IN PRANCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17956, 5 December 1921, Page 8

CEMETERIES IN PRANCE.

NEW ZEALANDERS' GRAVES. FACILITIES FQR VISITINGb OAREFtfLLY TENDED PLOTS. The splendid arrangements made by the. New Zealand Government „officerj3 in London to enable visitors from the ' Dominion to journey to battlefields and cemeteries in Northern France were the subject of some complimentary remarks by Mr. W. H. Pountney, of Auckland, who returned by the Maheno yesterday after an extended visit to Britain and France. Mr. Pountney made a special visit to Northern France in an .endeavour to locate 'the burial place of his two brothers, who,were killed in action, but in this he was unsuccessful. Mr. Pountney was much struck with a large wooden cross erected near Flers, bearing an inscription, "Dedicated to the menof the New Zealand Forces who fell in the Somrae Battle in September-October, 1916." In order that relatives wishing to visit the cemeteries in "Northern France may do so without the heavy expense incidental to Continental travelling, said Mr. Pountney, the New Zealand officers in London 'have made an arrangement with the St. Barnabas Hostels, of which the Rev. Matthew Mullineaux 13 director, as the result of which parties are met at Boulogne and Calais by girl guides, who arrange transport and purchase tickets, as well as giving all information for the journey to the cemeteries. Hostels are provided at the coast towns, at Arras and-Amiens, and other points where accommodation may be had at very reasonable rates. The visitor is put in touch with the Graves Commission, and all the information of that body is readily placed at the disposal of inquirers. The kindly interest and valuable assistance of Mr. Mullineaux, who was a chaplain with the' New Zealand forces, was highly spoken of by Mr. Pountney, who also referred to the careful attention being given to the graves of New Zealand soldiers by I the Dominion's representatives in France. He mentioned that all identified soldiers are buried in the now beautiful cemeteries, and a wooden cross erected over every grave. It is proposed eventually to replace these. crosses/ with stone •crosses.