BATTLEFIELD RELICS.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 30, Issue 24, 26 March 1918, Page 2

BATTLEFIELD RELICS.

DEAD SOLDIERS' TREASURES,

One branch of the Defence Department or which practically little has been heard during the war is the Returned Effects Distribution Department. It is here that all remaining possessions of soldiers who have fallen on the field of battle are received back from tho front, to be forwarded on to tho deceased soldiers' relatives. The sentimental value placed by a father or mother on the few possessions their sons have taken to tho battlefield can never be estimated. The belongings of the men are carefully collected on the battlefield, from the trenches, or in the hospitals, to be sent back to the relatives in New Zealand. It may be a prayer-book, an old photo., a handkerchief or perhaps only an identification disc. The work involves an immense amount of labour, both at the other side of the world and finally in New Zealand.

The officers of the Department are located at the old Te Aro railway station in Wellington. Here the rooms of the station are packed with the *,its and parcels received back from the front. Not only are deceased soldiers’ effects handled, but also the kits of returned soldiers. There is a staff of five. Some idea of the amount of work put through may be gathered from the fact that during the last two and a-half years over 12,000 kits and parcels have been handled. In addition, there is an ever-growing correspondence which such work necessarily entails. The kits are gone through by the staff, and anything ot value, sentimental and material, kept aside for consignment on to the relatives concerned. Anything of no value, in the way of old clothing, etc., is sent on to the Ordnance Stores, under whose control the Effects Department works. These useless articles are either burned or sent to the paper mills to be turned to use. The department has received hundreds of grateful letters from next-of-kin. , The effects of a dead soldier usually take about four or five months to arrive back from the front, dating from the time of his death.