In Memory of The Boys.

Opunake Times, Volume LVIII, Issue 3595, 18 October 1921, Page 2

In Memory of The Boys.

UNVEILING OF MEMORIAL

MONUMENT.

AT TE KIRI,

A very interesting ceremony took place at Te Kiri on Sunday afternoon when the memorial monument erected to the soldiers from the district who were killed in the Great War was unveiled by Mr O Hawken, •M P. There was a large attendance of the public, friends being present from the surrounding districts. The memorial takes the form of a granite obelisk, upon which the names of the fallen men are, inscribed. There were many beautiful wreaths placed on the base.

The ceremony was presided bver by Mr F Tindle, who explained the object of the gathering. There were, he said, many empty chairs in Te Kiri homes.

The Rev Avery, in the course of an eloquent prayer, said the spirit of loving devotion which sought to commemorate the work of those beloved, who had passed into the presence of God had found expression in the erection of the monument to their memory.

Mr J S Tosland, speaking with some feeling, said they had assembled on a solemn occasion. When war broke out in 1914, New Zealand was not slow in going to assist the Empire, and the Te Kiri district was not behind other places in the’ Dominion, and the men who had fallen had worthily upheld the traditions of the Empire. They were men to be proud of.. They had fought that might should not overcome right and they had won, and so they had assembled to honor their memory. Their sacrifice had not been in vain and they died doing their duty. The speaker concluded with an adaption of Scott’s panegric to Pitt 1

Now is the mighty column broke The beacon light is quenched in smoke

The trumpet’s silver voice is still

And the soldier silent on the hill. Mr C H Hurst said they were proud that day when they realised that the sacrifice their boys had made was well worth while. They had done their duty well and there should be no sadness. The boys had died fighting . for their country in a war against evil. When many of these boys were playing in the Te Kiri school grounds they little thought that one day a monument would be erected there to their memory. The memorial should always remind the people of the unselfishness of those who had made the great sacrifice for their country. We live in deeds not years; In thoughts not breaths, In feelings, not as figures on a dial, We should count time by heart beats,

He most lives who thinks most, feels the noblest, acts the best Mr Hawken said he felt honored in being, asked to unveil the memorial to the sons of parents assembled. He was glad to be present to show this mark of respect to the memory of the boys whose lives they were commemorating. They had shown the true spirit of self-sacrifice and had performed deeds worthy of commemoration. They celebrated a great occasion and an event in the lives of the people. In these difficult times, concluded Mr Hawken, we must do our part in the same spirit of loyalty as shown by the soldiers.

Mr Hawken then unveiled the monument, and in doing so said it was only a symbol—one way of remembering what theboys had done. The memory off their deeds and sacrifice would last as long as the stars endure.

The last post was impressively sounded by Bugler Geard, and a firing patty under Sergeant-Major Parkinson fired the last salute.

The inscription on the monument reads: “For Freedom’s CauseDedicated by the people of Te Kiri to the memory of those Te Kiri boys who made the supremo sacrifice in the Great War, 1914—1918." “Live thou for New Zealand, We for New Zealand died.”

The roll of honor inscribed includes ; Sergeant C J Hurst, LanceCorporalJl R v Mawhinney, and Privates J P Ewen, E J Fryday, S Gilbert, A Simpson, G W Tindle, J W Coupe, and Driver L W Hawton. 'J