FALLEN SOLDIERS MEMORIAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18951, 27 August 1923, Page 10

FALLEN SOLDIERS MEMORIAL.

CEREMONY AT MOSOIEL. FOUNDATION STONE LAID. The foundation stone of the monument i be erected in Mosgiel Park to the mem•y of the soldiers who lost their lives in le Great War was laid yesterday afteraon in the presence of a very large gatherig. A religious service was held to murk le occasion, the local ministers taking part, he stone was laid by Major-general Sir . W. Chaytor, commandant N.Z. Military orces, and the Mayor of Mosgiel (Mr . C. Browne) presided. The service opened with a verse of the iational Anthem and the hymn “0 God, ur Help in Ages Past,” was sung. Key. . W. Brown led in prayer, and Captain rmstrong read the Scripture lesson chosen )r the occasion. The Chairman said that the ceremony in hich they were taking part marked a step irward in a scheme which had been before le people of Mosgiel and surrounding,districts for quite a long time. It was about no and a-half years since the proposal > erect a memorial to those brave fellows rho made the supreme sacrifice in the treat War was first made. Many delays ud drawbacks had been experienced. The mount of funds available in hand ana romised amounted to £550, The cost ot rectlon will be about £6OO. In order to ■ring the cost within the means at the isposal of the committee the original plan ad to be modified, and some features which ; would have been desirable to retain had )be cut out. The committee would like ) have at least another £IOO. The architect presented Major-general Jhaytor with a silver trowel greenstone landle beating the following inscription:— ’Presented to Major-general Sir E. W. C. /haytory K.C.M.G., K.C.V.0., C. 8., on ccasion of laying the foundation stone ’aieri fallen soldiers’ memorial, Mosgiel, 6/8/23. D. G. Mowat, A.N.Z.1.A., archi-Major-general Chaytor said he felt the hanks of the community were not due to i;m: be returned thanks for the opporunity afforded to him to have the priviege of performing the ceremony of laying he foundation stone of a monument to the nemory of comrades who fell in the war—nen who gave their all. The amount of food that these memorials would do in the uture would depend on how the young were wrought up to regard them. Those ''ho ived at present knew what the war had neant in every way; those who came after hem would only know the larger taxes hat would bo required > to pay the bills, these men gave their lives and' in return me important matter was for us to see hat we looked after their dependents. The lounger generations would realise that many vould fall out of the race of life—not be■ause their hearts failed, but because their Health was broken. Much was being done it present for the man who was incapaeiated; but the real trouble would arise vhen they were obliged to give up through ailing health —the result of what they had luffered in tlie war. The spirit shown at present—working against great odds in lealth—was the same spirit that the soldiers showed in the war. Though many should tave been in hospital, they were in the Tont rank of the fight. He urged his learers to uphold the principles that the oldiers had fought for and to bring up the {lounger generation to do likewise. He referred to the spirit of comradeship shown n the ranks of the New Zealand No matter what opinion they held in many hinge, they were all of one opinion as to ihe duty they had to perform,_ and no mat,er what difficulty a man got into he knew lis comrades would do their utmost to extricate him. This same spirit, if adopted by the community in general, would /make our nation an ideal one if we only kept iP \Vhen ' the stone had been laid the Rev. ) Calder offered a dedicatory prayer The iymn ‘‘God of our Fathers” followed, and he president of the Taieri Returned Soldiers’ Association (Mr D. Hannah) road he roll of honour as followsE. Allan, Fhomas Begg, J. Caldwell, L. Christie, T. Ellis. J. Ede, A. Frew. D. Frew, N. Fraser, f S. Fleming. J. Findlay, W. Findlay, I - Fitzpatrick. G. Garrett. P, Gilhgnn, G. J \V. Gibson, G. Gossage, J C. Hendry, R. G. Harris, JT Harris, J. Haigh, H. Hay, B' Jaffray, D. S. Kennedy, J. Kirk, J. Keating, S. C. Keating, C. Knudson, \V. J. Maid seed, J. Morrison, G. Moyle, B. Moyle, Donald M’Loan, J. M‘Leod, H. VPLeod, J. M'Dowall, J. McDonald, M. M'Quilkan, M. Naisruilh, A. Owens, W. O’Brien, J. O’Brien, T. O’Brien, J. Rankin, W, Rowan, J. A, Robertson, G. Snell, J. Steele, T. Sproule, W. Smellie, G. Sparrow, D. Sutherland, G. Walton, K. Williamson, I. Wingfield. A short period of silence as a respect to their memory was then observed. An address suitable to the occasion was then delivered by Rev. C. J. Bush-King. The monument will be quite an imposing structure, and will be easily seen from the Main road of Mosgiel. It is monolithic in form and is constructed ot blue stone rubble. It is surmounted by Oamaru Ashler stone work upon which rests a sacrificial urn in bronze. The whole stands on a concrete base with four flights of steps, making an appropriate foundation for the considerable mass of stone work to rest upon. The monument is square. On the- facade facing Gordon road there is a symbolical cross in white Italian marble, representing sacrifice. The names of the fallen will be inscribed on panels on three sides with appropriate inscription. The base to the monument is 23ft square. The monument itself at the base is 7ft square converging to 4ft 6in at the apex, the total height being 30ft. The base is already in position and it is hoped that the work will be completed for tho unveiling ceremony on Armistice Day. The monument was designed by Me. D. G. Mowat, architect, and the work is being carried out by Messrs 11. Bingham and Co. The hymn “O* God of Bethel,” the Benediction bv Rev. E. R. Weston, and a verse of the National Anthem 'closed a very impressive service