SACEIFICE OF YOUTH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18278, 20 December 1922, Page 10

SACEIFICE OF YOUTH.

GRAMMAR SCHOOL OLD BOYS.

;WAR MEMORIAL UNVEILED.

AN IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY.

BEACON LIGHT TO DUTY.

The war memorial, erected in the grounds of the Auckland Grammar School by the old boy 3 in memory of 268 of their number who gave their lives in the Great War, was unveiled yesterday afternoon by the Governor-General, Lord Jellicoe. The ceremony was most impressive. The afternoon was fine, in spite of a threatening sky, and hundreds Of parents, old boys and friends attended, including the Mayor. Mr. J. H. Gunson, and Mrs. Gunson, Colonel H. R. Potter, officer commanding the district, and staff, and representatives of educational bodies. Practically all the present boys of the Grammar* Schools were present, and a number of pupils from the girls' schools. Lord Jellicoe, who was accompanied by Lady Jellicoe, and his aide-decamp, Captain P. R. M. Mundy. on his arrival, inspected the guard of honour, comprising members of the Grammar School Cadet Corps, under Lieutenant C. R. Jones. The ceremony opened with the reading of the 46th Psalm, and the offering of prayers by the headmaster, Mr. J. W. Tibbs. Then followed a few introductory remarks by Professor A. P. W. Thomas, chairman of the Board of Governors, who spoke of the board's great pleasure in joining with the old boys to do honour to those who died for the protection of the Empire and the vindication of righteousness on earth.

Symbolical Meaning. Interesting facts concerning the monument and its significance were gi ven .by Mr. J. Stanton, president of tho urn Boys' Association. The lonjr tapering column and the bronze figure of a boy at the top, standing on tip-too, with one hand stretched upward, sym dised the dominant purpose of the m^onal— uplift The column was octagonal in shape., signifying the eight cardinal virtues, and soared upward to the emblem of the Cross. Emblazoned on the sides of the column at the top were a number of Roman fasces, which signified the permanent and dominant, right of the State over the individual. Other subjects at the top of the column were a medieval cross, symbolic of the idea of sacrifice, and a medieval sword, point downward, signifying peace. The figure of the boy reaching upward typified the human soul aspiring toward the ideal. It was the soul of the school reaching out and endeavouring to help the uplift of the world. The column was constructed in New South Wales sandstone, said Mr. Stanton, B nd bore the names of 268 old boys on the bronze tablets at its base It was as long ago as February, 1919, that its erection was first contemplated, but unfortunate delays had occurred in securing materials. The total amount of money received by the committee charged with the arrangements was just under LttW, of which about £300 went toward the expenses of the campaign. The sum of £750 was contributed by the boys of the school. A feature of the memorial was that the names inscribed on the tablets were actually cast in solid metal, and would endure, to all intents and purposes, for all'time. _ r It was particularly fitting, _ said Mr. Stanton, that the representative of the Kine should be present to unveil the memorial. Of further significance was the fact that Lord Jelhcoe had commanded the great sea service which, more than any other one factor, contributed to victory in the great world war. (Applause.), Example of Gallant Souls. Lord Jellicoe, rising to unveil the monu. ment, said he was deeply sensible of the honour conferred on him in being asked to perform the ceremony. He considered it most fitting that the memorial had been erected in the school grounds, particularly as it had been» provided by the old and present boys. There it would stand to commemorate' deeds of courage, seliaacrifice, and devotion to duty, which were the aims that all school* aspired to Impart in the minds of their pupils. The final goal of such training was to cause them to do the right thing always and to work unselfishly for their King, school, and country. The monument stood to show that old and present boys realised that the names of these who gave their lives to carry out those principles were ■worthy of remembering. It was a record of the school's loyalty to the Empire in its great crisis—a beacon tc light the future boys of the school in vhe path of duty and self-sacrifice. It would be an everlasting reminder to the ration's boys of the great traditions which was their duty to uphold, and of th wonderful example which those gallant <ou<ls had made on their behalf. Lord Jellicoe then removed ihe Union Jack draping the foot of the olumn, and declared the monument unveiled. The " Last Post" was sounded by Buglers T. Ross and W. A. G. Fowlie, of the school cadet -corps, -while the assemblage stood bareheaded. Wreaths were laid at the foot of the monument by His Excellency and Mrs. O. A. Gribbin, the latter on behalf of the mothers. A dedicatory hymn, " O Valiant Hearts," and " 0 God, Our Help in Ages Post," were sung by the assemblage, lead by the boya of the school, under Mr. K. J. Dellow, with a band accompaniment. Professor Thomas, on behalf of the Board of Governors, accepted the care and guardianship of the memorial for all time. The monument showed an affectionate regard of the old boys for their alma mater, and an admiration for the heroism of those who sacrificed everything for great ideals.

Mr. Tibbs* Speech. Mr. Tibbs, who spoke with emotion, on behalf of the relatives of those whoso names were recorded on the monument, gratefully acknowledged the old boys' act of recognition. " I have been asked," he said, " as the father of one, and, in an educational sense, of all the boyi ■whose names are engraved" here, to thanlc you for the beautiful memorial on which you have placed their names.' Referring to the symbolism of the statue, he said that the uplifted hand appeared to him to be protecting the world .-gainst that arrogant militarism which wis the undoing of Germany, as it wcs of Rome ""■■ centuries ago. It also pledget the school to answer the call of Empire whenever it came with the same gallantry as did those •whose names were recorded fo-low. (Applause.) v The ceremony came to an «id with the ringing of the National Anthem.