SOLDIERS’ MEMORIAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18800, 1 March 1923, Page 5

SOLDIERS’ MEMORIAL

UNVEILED AT PALMER STON. AN IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY. "Relatively, Palmorston and district have done more towards remembering the fallen soldiers than hundreds of other districts in New Zeulund," declared Mr J. A. Macpherson, M.P., yesterday. The occasion was tho unveiling of the Palmerston Soldiers' Memorial, and there was surely none in the gathering of 1200 or so people who did not agroo that Mr Maepherson had spoken truly and few who did not feel a certain satisfaction that the tangible result of their contributions was so worthy of the cause. For tho momorial —an archway forming tho front entrance to tho District High School —is a striking and handsome structure which should long servo to remind residents of the district, and particularly the young people, of the sacrifice made by the 49 whoso names it carries. Tho bases are. of concrete, upon which the arch is erected in grey Timaru stone (the gift of the Timaru Borough), and the white marble figure of a soldier surmounts tho structure in bold contrast. Below tho figure, in gold letters, is written, "The Great War, 1914-18," and an oaoh frontal side of tho arch is a marble tablet bearing the names of tho fallen.

Tho official unveiling ceremony took place under perfect weather conditions, and tho size of the attendance exceeded expectations. The Hon. E. H. Clark, Mayor of the borough, presided, and tho Waihemo County Council and the Otago Education Board were also represented. The proceedings were opened by Ensign Sanson, who led m appropriate prayer. The Rev. L L. Richards road a portion of tho burial service before tho gathering joined in tho singing of “O God our Help in Ages Past.”

The Chairman, who spoke briefly, referred to war as the greatest plague that could afflict humanity. Only a few years ago this truth had been brought home to them with a fearful force, and that gathering was one of tho minor reflections from tho catastrophe that had grown out of the Kaiser’s ambition. He reminded the gathering that the young men who had responded to tho call of right against might that had echoed throughout the nation had in many cases forgone all the pleasures of home life and the great opportunities that lie untouched by those merely on the threshold of life. It was a big sacrifice, and one that entitled those who made it to remembrance and reverence for over. He was sure that the scholars who would walk through the arch before them would bo inspired by the thoughts it would bring to live lives dutiful and truo as had lived tho men who had died on their behalf. Mr dark went on to say that he hoped the world had seen the last of great wars. During the last few years tho League of Nations had been established, and he trusted sincerely that the different nations represented on lit would bo gifted with the will and the ability to keep tho peace, so that the homes of the future would be unmonaced by tho frightfulnoss of conflict. Then woo'd the tragedy that Bracken had so wonderfully indicated in “Not Understood” exist no more in the international sense, and mankind would have inherited a great blessing. In conclusion, Mr Clark said he trusted that the parents and other relatives of those who had lost sons would realise that they had the sympathy of the people in the district. To the relatives present and to those prevented from attendance he would like to express the assurance that if tho call came again the deeds of those whoso loss they mourned would be emulated by the district’s sons who were yet at school.—(Applause.) Mr S. L. Beck, a former Mayor, was the next speaker. He had been one of tho last to wish “God speed” to the men whose memory they were honouring. Alas, thaA it should have been ‘‘Good-bye” in so many cases! He would like to point out that the arch was not only a memorial; it was an arch of victory os well It was a good thought that had inspired the erection of the memorial at the school, where it would serve to remind the men of tomorrow of the self-saarifioe and noble heroism that had kept their freedom unviolated. Might_ those men of tomorrow, who were the children of to-day, also prove worthy citizens of the great Empire to which they belonged, honouring God, King and country! If the time ever came for them to make sacrifices in the interests of the Empire, might their conduct be of the kind that had brought enduring fame to tho memory of their older brothers. —(Applause.) In an eloquent and inspiring oration the Rev. H. G. Gilbert, of Invercargill, spoke aa reported elsewhere, of tho lessons to be learned from tho deeds of tho dead and from tho horrors of the war. The company then .stood with bowed heads while the “Dead March” was played or. an organ by Miss Bain. The unveiling followed, Mrs H. Clark taking from one tablet the Union Jack and from the other the New Zealand Ensign. Amidst a profound silence the following names were exposed:—A. C. Apps, H. R. Austin, F, Baker, A. Brooks, D. Brown, J. Buchanan R. Cardno, H. J. Clark, A. O. Clark, A. C. Craig, A. D. Ciuig, W. Curri*., W. J. Clements, A. R. Douglas, W. Drummond, A. T. Field, ’.T. G. Gilmour, A. R. Hamilton, J. Hunt, W. Howie, J. A. Jones, H. R. Kitchen, P. Lawless, P. Lunan, W. A. Aitkon, C. Gow, J. Morrisou, T. Lemham, R. J. M‘Donald, J. MTntosh, E. M'Farlane, D. M’Laren, H. M‘Leod, C. H. Meiklo, J. Mitchell, J. W. Menzies, R. D. Muir, J. M. D. Quin, W. Sloon, W. Sutherland, J. W. Sanderson, J. Stewart, W. Stafford, W. E. Taylor, J. Thorn, J. Tborburn, W. Walker, H. Wilson, A. B, Wilson.

Mr A. B. Lawrence, representing the Education Board, assured the gathering that oyory oaro would be taken of the memorial by the education authorities. Mr Lawrence went on to refer to the war and its causes, stating that it would probably be admitted tlrat no previous war had been undertaken with such moral right as that against Germany. The “set of the soul” had boon right, and I the Empire’s manhood had responded in hundreds of thousands to die for an ideal. This was largely due to the fact that, in contradistinction to that of Germany, the system of education throughout the Empire encouraged the boy to stand up for his rights and to stand forward in defence of his honour. It was this principle that had pulled Britain through, while Germany had failed because of an education system which produced learning without character, thought without conscience, organisation without liberty, and an ideal that bowed down before the material. With the recent lesson of Germany’s downfall and the older stories of Greece, Rome, Carthago, and so on to guide thorn, these young democracies should not fall into the same error. The pages of history were strewn with the wrecks of groat nations. We must so train our young as to avoid the rocks which others had struck. They must bo taught that ‘‘righteousness ©xalteth a nation,” and must be imbued with the consciousness of life as a blessing.—(Applause.) Mr J- A. Macpherson, M.P., explained that he was not prepared to make a speech, bvit he wanted to tell them that the people of North Otago stood second to none in the dominion in • the way of what had been done to perpetuate the names of those who hod died in the service of the nation. Their attitude in that connection had been typical of Soots, who were celebrated for the patriotism and their appreciation of patriotism. The memorial before them would keep over green the memory of those who had left the district in a glorious cause never to return. —(Applause.) After the senior school pupils had marched through the arch layftg floral wreaths at its bases the Benediction was pronounced. The sounding of the “Last Post” by Mr J. H. Appleby followed, the frequently mournnful notes making h fitting termination to the main part of an impressive ceremony.

Before the National Anthem was sung Mr Clark expressed, on behalf of tho district, thanks to all those who had assisted at tho ceremony and to tho committee, which had brought the memorial about, specially mentioning the chairman (Mr D. Sutherland).