WAR MEMORIAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18502, 13 March 1922, Page 7

WAR MEMORIAL

UNVEILING AT GREEN ISLAND. SPEECH BY SIR THOMAS MACKENZIE. Sunday was a day to be remembered in the history of the borough of Green Island, for it was a day set apart to honour the memory of twentieth century crusaders who fought for freedom in the greatest war in history. Once again differences of religion and tradition and upbringing were forgotten in it common purpose, where all stood bare headed before the sign of a common sacrifice. Ihe memorial, though limited to ex-pupils of tire Green Island School, is really the district’s tribute. 'The memorial proper stands on high ground, just under the green trees of the school grounds. It is a brown marble column on a marble rectangular base, which in turn rests on a foundation block of Moeraki rough-cast work, faced at the corners with white oement. Wide-stopped approaches and a bed of white pebbles surround the whole. The column is inlaid with a pair of rifles and a scroll of leaves which runs spirally upwards towards the top, which breaks off with a hint of something beyond. Below are the names of 31 ex-pupils who died in the war, and the motto “Pro patria mortui sunt.” The roll of honour, which will bo hung in the- school is a handsome work, with a carved female • figure at one side in a mourning attitude. It contains the names of 208 ex-pupils who went to the war, in addition to those who died and whose names are inscribed on the memorial column Both were unveiled by Sir Thomas Mackenzie, who came specially from Wellington at the request of the committee to perform the ceremony. The unveiling of the memorial to the fallen was held in the afternoon in front of a large crowd of citizens, returned soldiers in uniorni, and school children. i'he ceremony opened with the doxology, after which the Mayor (Mr IV. L. Miller) welcomed Sir Thomas Mackenzie, who, he said, had come all the way from- Wellington to unveil the memorial. They sincerely regretted that Lady Mackenzie was not with them, and would ask Sir Thomas to convoy to her (heir good wishes. There were two reasons why they had considered Sir Thomas waa the right man to unveil their memorial. The first was that he was an ex-pupil of th© old Green Island School; the other that in his capacity as High Commissioner during the war he had showed every kindness to th© soldiers who went over to England on furlough. To Sir Thomas he extended a most cordial welcome and their congratulations on the honours which had been conferred upon him. To those who had suffered the loss of loved ones, he expressed in a word the sincere sympathy of the people of Green Island. I.ed by the Green Island Band, the crowd then sang th© stately words of “O God, our help in ages past,” and the Rev. Mr Hunt offered 'prayer. As the people sang of th© sheltering shadow of the Throne, the clouds darkened the whole sky and rain fell softly on the flag that draped the column, glistening the whit© stones around its base. But the clouds passed and th© sun touched the raindrops with life and bdauty. After th© prayer, Mr T. Tomkins (chairman of the school and memorial committees) welcomed Sir Thounas Mackenie *on behalf of the school, describing bin; as its moat illustrious ex-pupil. They desired an opportunity of thanking Sir Thomas for what he hod don© for their boys during the war. Many a mother’s heart had been comforted when she had heard of kindness shown to her boy. Mr Tomkins related the steps which had led from th© first conception in 1915 of a roll of honour on the school wall to the larger scheme for a memorial, giving honour to their late schoolmaster, Mr W. MacDonald, as the prime mover. There were 208 names already inscribed on the. roll of honour, and 31 on the memorial. Truly a fine record, and one of which they might justly feel proud. It was the desire of the committee and of the staff that the children should be taught to revere the memorial just for what it stood —the memory of those who had fallen—and to that end, he explained, the first assistant (Mr Miller) had arranged for flowers to be laid on it every morning by the pupils in turn, who would .each report that the service had been performed. The Mayor then called upon Sir Thomas to address the gathering -and unveil the memorial. SIR THOMAS’S SPEECH. Sir Thcmas said he had been deeply touched by the remarks made by ihe Mayor and Mr Tomkins concerning himself. He was not prepared for such compliments as hud been paid to him, but he could assure them that no honour had been greater than what ho was receiving on that occasion. As to the work which he had been enabled to do during the war, he could only say that it was a labour of love, and the welcome which ho had received that day was more than a reward. Looking back on his early School days at Green Island, Sir Thomas joined the Mayor in acknowledging the high ability of the then schoolmaster (Mr Allan), and said he also, with Mr Tomkins, mourned the loss of Ihe late Mr MacDonald. It was true that Green Island School had always had a magnificent staff, and he was sure the good work would bo carried on. Continuing, -Sir Thoinaq said no finer body of men ever lived than those who went to war from ixew Zealand, He described a parade in Egypt, when General •Sir John Maxwell said to him: “Mackenzie, no country in- the world could send troops to excel those men, and lew could equal them.” Ten days after th© outbreak of war ho had called together a meeting of New Zealanders and friends to consider what programme they should adopt. Their policy had stood the test of war and the men looked after as far as possible. If wounded they were received into excellent hospitals, and people called regularly to see what they required; when they were on furlough they could go to the hostels, where they were given a hath, clean clothes, and good food; when they had time to spend a week-end they were put in touch with those who wished to entertain them, and so they went throughout the length and breadth of England. Wherever tney went they conducted themselves like soldiers and gentlemen. 'l'here never was a complaint. In the New Zealand army the men were of equal quality as the officers, and it amazed and astounded the people at Home that wo could raise men of that type. The memorial held the names of men who had fallen that we might be free. It was because of their sacrifice liait they (the people) were living in pence instead of under the heel of Germany. It was well known that Germany had decided that Aknroa should be fortified. They looked upon us as a lazy people, and were going to give ns something to do building a fortress that was to b© used to keep ns in subjection. Had we, ho asked, settled the problem of war by the recent conferences? ilo was afraid not, and was much of the same opinion as Lord Sydenham when he regarded sucii measures as likely to sap the independence of the British people. Ho believed it would be found again that unscrupulous nations would snap their fingers at treaties and agreements when they wore able to do ss. Sir Thomas quoted Lord Northoliffe t.o show that Germany waa even now carrying on pernicious propaganda, and named the French Minister of War as authority for the statement that she had disguised organisation that would enable her to call up 7,000,000 men. Only recently a number of 10. Sin guns had been discovered which had been manufactured since the war. Wo were not afraid of Germany in the open, but we Were afraid of her machinations underground. “The time will come,” he said, “when the people of New Zealand will have to defend this beautiful land by the strength of their own arm. The people of England forget and forgive, though the Celt does not. and we sec- Germany’s ramifications in Great Britain already. If the English people are lulled to sleep the Germans will cause trouble again. Then you have this opinion from Mr Skelton, the Australian Ambassador at New York, whom I know very well; “look out for the Japanese. They are behind China, and if they cab arouse China they will arouse India too Then you will have war lietwrou the East and the West I We must stand shoulder to shoulder with the Americans who are of our own race and customs, and whose civilisation is as high as ours. Those messages -which represented her an being antagonistic to us were purl of the propaganda of the enemies of Great Britain. I met many Americans at Horne and I never heard one claim credit, for winning the war. On the contrary they were very modest, and actually seemed sorry that President Wilson had not, come into the war sooner.” It behoved ns. he concluded, not to scrap entirely our means of defence. To this end he suggested that instead of looping an expensive cruiser like th© Chatham, which cost £750-£IOOO a day, we should go in more for submarines and aircraft and the mounting of a few gyms at certain points on the coast. Sir Thomas then unveiled the memorial by drawing aside the around it, and all stood bareheaded while Bugler Buchanan sounded the “Last Post.’'’ After this returned soldiers, school children, and a few residents, mostly elderly ladies in black,

filed past the memorial on which they laid their floral tributes. The soldiers’ hymn, “Fight the Good Fight,’’ the benediction, and the National Anthem concluded the ceremony. EVENING SERVICE. The roll of honour was unveiled at a united service in the Town Hall at night. Rain had set in, but the people turned out in such numbers as to fill the hall to the doors. The roll of honour was temporarily set up on the stage on which chairs were provided for the Mayor, Sir Thomas Mackenzie, Mr T. K. Sidey, M.P. (who took the place of Dr Harrison,), president of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association, who was unable to be present), ministers of religion, and members of the committee. Seats were reserved in the front of the hall for the relatives of fallen soldiers.- An orchestra under Mr D. Buchanan led the music. After the doxology. and prayer by the Rev. J. Kilpatrick, Captain Smith (Salvation Army) read the seventy-second Psalm Then followed “Abide With Me’’ by the orchestra, and “All People That on Earth Do Dwell.” Sir Thomas Mackenzie then unveiled the roll of honour. “ For All the Saints” was followed by prayer by -Chap lain C. Bush-King, an address by Mr T. K. Sidey, M.P., and “Lead, Kindly Light.” The benediction was pronounced by the Rev. J. Kilpatrick, and the National Anthem followed. In his speech on this occasion Sir Thomas related in an interesting fashion incidents of early days when he tramped to school at Green Island over the hills from Forbury. Passing on to speak of the -war, he tojd first-hand stories of generals and admirals. and of the, campaign of Gallipoli and the battle of Jutland. Out here, he said, we were not aware of the good work of the Royal Family during the war. No two people worked harder than the King and Queen. They visited almost every hospitial and went from bed to bed. The names which were on the roll of honour, equally with the names of those -who hod fiven their lives, should be held in the ighest honour, for these men had saved us from a dreadful fate. ■ In conclusion, ne congratulated those who were responsible for the -ceremony that day, which was one of the most complete of its kind that be had met with. To be present he had estimated so high an honour that nothing short of illness would have prevented him from coming. Mr Sidey congratulated the people on the setting-up of such a fine memorial and roll of honour. Among the traditions of the school none- would be cherished more dearly than the memory of those who fought and those who died in the Great War. We were far too close to it to distinguish the hand of God in the conflict, but we were able to see indications pointing to the nearer approach of one ideal of Christianity—the inauguration of an era of universal peace. There had never been a meeting so fraught with such tremendous significance as the Washington Conference, and it would not have been possible if the war had not been fought and won. Time and again, indeed, offers of disarmament had been made to Germany, but always she had rejected them. Th© names of the men who bad born© their part in th© struggle should always be cherished in the hearts of a grateful country. The service closed with th© inspiring sen ■vtiment of Cardinal Newman’s great hymn.