WAR SERVICE RECORDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22476, 21 July 1936, Page 10

WAR SERVICE RECORDS

OFFER TO NEW PLYMOUTH TO BE EMBEDDED IN CENOTAPH f [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] NEW PLYMOUTH. Monday With the provision that the fiift should be embedded in the New Plymouth war memorial cenotaph, a Wellington resident to-night offere'd tho New Plymouth Borough Council four volumes containing tho names, rank, number and name of next-of-kin of 100,000 soldiers who served overseas with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force during the Great War. The books, which could not be purchased and were valuable, would bo given in memory of a dead New Plymouth friend of tho donor. If accepted, the books were to be part and parcel of tho cenotaph. Tho donor stipulated that a cavity was to he made in the memorial and the ease placed in it, with pitch poured round it. In front was to bo a brass plate inscribed, "Approximately behind this plate are books in which are recorded the regimental number, rank. Christian names and surnames of 100,000 who served during the Great War with the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces."

In the event of the gift heing accepted it was suggested that a New Zealand roll of honour containing the names of 37,000 who fell should also be obtained. A similar gift was made for the Ashburton memorial. The council referred the matter to the branch of the Returned Soldiers' Association before making a decision.