LOST COMRADES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19045, 19 June 1936, Page 10

LOST COMRADES

EX-SOLDIERS' TRIBUTE

DEATHS OF THE PART YEAR

HIS MAJESTY KINO OEOROI

Tributes to the memory of the late King- George V, and those of other distinguished war loaders and statesmen who have "gone west'' during the past year, were paid at the annual council of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association, held, in 'Wellington, this week, the following official reference to this loss of old comrades being included in the annual report of the. association : "The year which afforded us the opportunity of joining in the rejoicings of the British Empire for the occasions of the jubilee of King George V and Queen Mary called upon us to share the grief of "that Empire and every other country of the world' on the passing of His Most Gracious -Majesty.

"His reign was perhaps one of the most, momentous in the history of Great Britain. Within its, limits we find scientific and inventive progress greater than in any similar period. The advance of education brought with it under his sympathetic guidance improved social conditions that must in the long run spell for the happiness of our nation. To us of the British Empire he was really the first of our kings seen in the Dominions, while the wonders of the wireless have enabled him to speak to us personally. "ENDEARED TO ALL" "lie endeared himself to all by his manly bearing and by his intense interest in his people of all classes and wherever scattered in- the. world. As soldiers many of us saw him in loth England and France during tiiai war that increases the. importance of liis reign in our history, and! incidentally gave birth to this association. Tile kindly and anxious interest, he exhibited for the .soldier then was continued when the war concluded and to the date of his death he remained the rat von in chief of the British Empire Service League.

"Grieving for a lost King, it is happy that we can rejoice in a new one resembling his father in so many of his excellent qualities and adding many others of his own. As the Prince, of Wales of world-wide popularity and respect, lie is the patron of our association, and if is hoped that we shall continue to possess that privilege and honour. ANOTHER LOSS TO THE EMPIRE "Another loss to the. Empire and to New Zealand ex-servicemen in particular was the death of Admiral of the Fleet Lord Jellicoe, Q.C.8., 0.M., G.C.V.0.. on November 20, 1935. Lord and Lady Jellicoe were greatly respected in New Zealand during the period of office of Lord Jellicoe as Governor-General. On return to Britain, Lord Jcllicoe's interest in ex-servicemen, which had always been outstanding in New Zealand, resulted in his becoming, on the death of Earl Haig. the grand president of the British Empire Service League, and. until ill-health intervened, the president of the British Legion. "A further death, of one of Britain's war leaders. Lord Beaftv. occurred in March. 1936.

"The committee feels that it should record here the death of Sir Francis Bell, P. 0., G.0.M.G., on March 13. 1936. His work for the soldier during the war and his continued interest in the ex-serviceman and his welfare both as a private citizen and as a Minister of the Crown will ever be gratefully remembered."

Reference was also made to the death of Lord Allenby by the Dominion president, the Hon. *W.'Perry, M.L.C.