THE LATE COLONEL MALONE

Patea Mail, 26 August 1931, Page 3

THE LATE COLONEL MALONE

(TIENEK BAIR MEMORIAL. NEW ZEALANDERS' VALOUR. In Honour of the Soldiers of The New Zealand Expeditionary Force (August 8, .11)15). ‘From the uttermost ends of the earth’ , The New Zealand monument stands on the Top of the main ridge of Gallipoli Peninsula, at almost its highest point, StiO feet alcove sea level. It is meant for long-distance effect, ,as few will ever have the opportunity of climbing up to it. It is visible for 5(1 miles from the Aegean and from Asia. It was raised by the people of New Zealand, was designed by Mr. S. Hurst .Seagal", of Christchurch, and is built, as are all the other monuments on Gallipoli, of stone from an old quarry on the peninsula, stone exactly like that to be found in the still surviving courses of the Homeric walls of Trov.

As all the world knows, when the New Zealanders, after incredible difficulties and most sanguinary fighting, had reached the summit and, in spite of terrible losses, held it for 48 hours, 1 hey could do no more. By mass atlack fife line was swept back 100 yards below the crest- —bill yards from the. domination of the Narrows, 400 yards from victory—all for tire lack of support .

NEW ZEALAND FEAT OF ARMS. Tnii', an English Division and Brigade, an Iml. „n and an Australian

Brigade played their part ga lantly, especially in clearing the lower ridges; bat of these only two exhausted English battalions 'reached the top. And wnat. wen 1 they all against so many? It was in Whitehall and Fleet Street that the Dardanelles were lost. “Gan there be any doubt of the suitability of the site for tins great Xew Zealand memorial, or of the right of Xew Zealanders, to it?” asked -Gener.il Sir A. Godley at the unveiling of the monument. “It was the goal o.t their desire, in the early days of the landing, Xew Zealanders fought for it; in August they attained it.

“The first Xew Zealand V.C. was gained hen 1 by Corporal Bassett; the lives, of three gallant Xew Zealand leaders —Colonel Stewart, Colonel Banchop, Colonel Malone —were laid down for it. The leadership, the spear-point, the backbone and the impetus of the attack were provided by Xew Zealanders. It was primarily a Xew Zealand feat of arms.” HUXDREDS OE XAMEEESS GRAVES. ■ This monument ami all the others on Gallipoli are unique in that they commemorate not victory, but valour. Around the base of the Chunuk Bair monument a large square is turfed and planted with clumps of rosemary and lines -of irises, and there has taken root one carefully-cherished manuka. Close by, on tire slope towards the Dardanelles is the Chunuk Bair Cemetery, It contains the graves of only 10 Xew Zealand soldiers whose bodies wore identified, and of: one Englishman; among these is; Colonel Malone. ■There are Olid nameless graves, and on the marble panels of the screen wall that contains the cross are commemorated .Sod New Zealand soldiers who have no known graves. Truly might they liuve said: “lell Xew Zealand that we died for her and here we rest content.”