EMPIRE PILGRIMAGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19891, 9 March 1928, Page 10

EMPIRE PILGRIMAGE.

BATTLEFIELDS OF FRANCE.

DOMINION QUOTA WANTED.

A suggestion that New Zealand should send a minimum of 100 men to join in the Empire pilgrimage to the battlefields of FraDce and Flanders, has been conveyed to the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association.

It- is proposed to muster 8000 British ex-service men in London during July, representing the many units that fought through 1914-18. They will journey through the battlefields of France, terminating their tour with a march through the Menin. Gate Memorial at Ypres. New Zealand's quota, it is desired, should comprise at least 100 men—all the other Dominions and dependencies, it is understood, having been requested to send delegations. Unofficial advice , from Australia is to the effect that the Commonwealth hopes to send 300. A circular received from the headquarters of the New : Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association'by the Auckland branch states the Dominion body is not in the financial position to spend any money on sending ex-service men on the suggested tour and that the New Zealand party must be composed of men able to pay their own way, but arrangements will be made for New Zealand ex-soldiers who happen to be journeying to England, to join the Empire pilgrimage there. The route suggested is via Canada, in which, case the Australian contingent would probably come by way of New Zealand. The delegation, if there is to be one from New Zealand, would need to reach London by July 20 next at the latest. Those able and prepared to make the journey are requested to communicate with headquarters.