SPORTSMEN OF OTAGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25962, 1 October 1945, Page 6

SPORTSMEN OF OTAGO

SERVICE OF REMEMBRANCE IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY AT CARISBROOK A simple but impressive ceremony of remembrance as a tribute to the memory of the sportsmen of Otago who gave their lives in the service of their country during the war was held at Carisbrook yesterday afternoon. The officiating ministers, all returned chaplains of the forces, were the Rev. O. T. Baragwanath, the Rev. L. D. C. Groves, and the Rev. H. W. Burley, and on the platform were the Mayor (Mr D. C. Cameron) and Mr A. H. Cameron, president of the Otago Rugby Football Union, which arranged the ceremony. The attendance of about 1200 was representative, not only of the Rugby football clubs, but of kindred clubs in practically every branch of sport. “ It would not be difficult to present to you an impressive list of men who bear famous names in the world of sport who are among those whom we remember, or an even more impressive record of those who have won distinction for gallant and efficient service,” said Mr Baragwanath, who delivered the address, “but that might defeat the purpose of this act of remembrance, because to-day we are honouring the memory, not only of representative players and winners of decorations, but of every son of this district who left his field of sport to take his place on the grim field of battle, there to win, at such a cost, our liberty.” ~ High up in the Swiss Alps, by the side of a little mountain track, said the speaker, there stood a lonely . grave, surmounted by the simplest of headstones, bearing an epitaph of three words —“ He died climbing.” Nothing else was known of the man who was there remembered; a passer-by learnt nothing of his name or nationality, his religion or occupation, but something even more important was known, the fact that the call to higher service found him climbing. That epitaph might well mark the resting place of their gallant young comrades whom they remembered that' day, said Mr Baragwanath. In the desert or in the jungle, in the valleys and plains of Southern Europe, in every perilous sea where thqrc were enemies to face, or high above the clouds, they, too, had died “climbing” climbing towards their lofty goal of ‘ peace with honour” and security for those whom they loved better than life. A Challenging Call Mr Baragwanath said they not only paid honour to those who had fallen, but felt the challenging, awakening call to live more worthily of their memory. “ These, your sons and brothers, your comrades and old team mates, have won a resounding victory over a European organisation where ‘ truth is discarded, where charity is despised, which knows no eternity but the earthly stream of Nordic blood.' In the Pacific they have matched ruthless barbarity with the only antidote known to man—the faith and courage of a free people. Let us, in our homes and factories, in our schools and shops, in our committees and our parliaments, catch- their victorious spirit of co-operation and comradeship, and let us be proud to live by the standards by which they died. .

“Please God, we shall never again need to have recourse to arms,” Mr Baragwanath continued, “ but there is one way alone in which we can keep faith with those who sleep on foreign fields, to ‘take.up their quarrel with the foe,’ which does not mean to perpetuate hatred and strife, but to go into action'with every weapon of education, science, and religion, to outlaw those loathsome evils of greed and treachery which are not yet dead, and remain a challenge to every thinking and praving man and woman.” “If these, our fellow sportsmen, could speak to us to-day what would their message be? ” he asked. “ Surely something like this: ‘Don’t grieve for us,’ they would say, ‘ but care for our dependents, carry on as we would have carried on the tasks that confront you, and think, work, and strive that reason, decency, and honest dealing may prevail! ’ ” The speaker said that he remembered very vividly one night at a youth camp before the war; it was Easter, and an unusual relay race was held. The best runners in the camp were chosen, and sent off in two teams, carrying, in place of the usual baton, a lighted torch. The course lay around the hills surrounding the valley, and it was a moving sight to see the bright burning lights carried by the young athletes, crossing and recrossing against the dark background of the sky. At last, the final pair received the torches, and the winner came running down into the camp, and it was his privilege to thrust the torch into the heap of bracken and fern that had been prepared. In a moment, the flames rose high, and then died down again, leaving, glowing in the centre of the fire, an iron cross, shining in the darkness for all to see.

Several of the boys who ran that night had now run their last earthly race; yet. he felt sure that whereverthe arduous path of duty led them in recent years, especially in hours of strain and peril, they had not forgotten that Easter night, when, with lighted torches, they played their part in setting there a living cross of fire, as a beacon to their fellowmen. He would leave that picture with them, for in that way, they might enshrine the memory of those who had gone forth from the sports fields of Otago and whose names were engraved upon their hearts. They, too, had borne the torch of youth and faith into the thick darkness of a world at war, zealously they had guarded that sacred flame, and by their sacrifice they had set the Cross of Courage and Compassion in the dark places of the world. “To us. to whom is entrusted the sacred privilege of life, they have flung the torch of Liberty,” he concluded, “ with God’s help, and in memory of their sacrifice, we shall not bear it unworthily.” _ A prayer was said by Mr Groves and the ‘ scripture reading was taken by Mr Burley.

Musical Service

The Kaikorai. St.. Kilda, Green Island, and Caversham Bands, and Dunedin Ladies’ Band, took part in the musical service, arranged by Mr James Dixon, with whom was associated as conductors Messrs T. McLean and George Christie. The combined bands played “On the Quarter Deck” and “ Colonel Bogey,” and the combined male choirs, under the direction of Mr L. B. Borrow, sang “Creation's Hymn ’’ and “All in the April Evening.” The following hymns were sung by the gathering; “ O God Our Help,” “Abide With Me,” and “ Onward Christian Soldiers.” The service, which opened with the singing of “God Defend New Zealand,” closed with the National Anthem and the Benediction, which was pronounced by Mr Groves.