MEMORIAL TABLET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19963, 4 June 1928, Page 11

MEMORIAL TABLET.

UNVEILING AT ST. DAVID'S. THIRD COMPANY ENGINEERS. IMPRESSIVE SERVICE HELD. A memorial tablet to members of the Third Field Company, New Zealand Engineers, who lost their lives in the Great War, was unveiled by Major-General R. Young, Officer Commanding the New Zealand Forces, at St. David's Presbyterian Church yesterday morning. The service, which was of a special nature, was attended by a large congregation, which included officers and men of the company. In addition to Major-General Young there were present Lieutenant-Colonel J. E. Duigan, chief staff officer, Northern Command, Lieutenant-Colonel L. M. Shera, who commanded the company through the war, Major A. T. Dow, Commander Northern Depot Engineers, Captain G. H. Clifton, adjutant Northern Depot Engineers, and signallers, and Captain W. A. Gray, who will shortly assume command of the engineers. Several old members of the unit, including one man who served in 1897, also attended. The service was conducted by the Rev. J. A. Thomson, a former chaplain with the New Zealand Forces In his address, Mr. Thomson said every memorial should be looked upon as an emblem of determination to live in the same spirit as the men had died If memorials were not so regarded, then they were an insult to those they commemorated. Present members of the company must remember they had a task to perform in maintaining the honour of the unit. It had been operating continuously since 1870, although its history went back before that date. Its record in the Great War had been one of faithful service. Church members were proud the company had chosen the St. David's Soldiers' Memorial Church as a place for the erection of its memorial tablet. A definite link had thus been established between the church and the company. Major-Gencral Young then unveiled the tablet, this being followed by the sounding of the Last Post and the Reveille, the congregation standing. The singing of the National Anthem concluded the service.

The names on the tablet are:—A. J. Ansell, J. Boyd, T. R. R. Burns, F. Coleman, J. Cook, J. Connell, J. W. Dadson, R. T. Fry, A. C. Farley, 0. Fielder, B. Gibson, L. Goldsworthy, F. R. Gray, C. Hanlev, F. Henderson, E. G. Hudson, E. G. Husband, L. Hodgson, C. R. Johannsen, C. H. Lynch, E. E. Mason, N. McDermott, W. McDowell, R. R. Nairn, S." W. Paine, H. G. Pegden, T. E. Peters, F. J. Preston, F. S. Robinson, E. Rhodes, G. B. Storer, T. R. Sullivan, W. Swift, W. E. Smethursfc, W. G. Scott, A. Taylor, and E. E. Vinson.