MEMORIAL PLAQUES

Southland Times, Issue 18834, 29 May 1920, Page 5

MEMORIAL PLAQUES

METHOD OF DISTRIBUTION. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, May 28 Advice has been received that the King has been pleased to approve of the issue of a memorial plaque and scroll to the next-of-kin of those who have fallen in the war and to those whose deaths were attributable to the war. The gift is intended as a solace for the bereavement suffered and as a memento. The plaque in bronze and the scroll will be given to the actual next-of-kin of the soldier at the time of distribution of the memento not of the original next-of l-in, who may have died in the meantime) in the following order:— (1,1 widow; (2 1 eldest surviving son; (3) eldest surviving daughter; (4) lather; (5) mother; (6) eldest surviving brother; (7) eldest surviving sitscr; (8) eldest surviving half-brother; (9J eldest surviving half-sister. Where there are no relatives of the above degrees the mementoes will be given to relatives of deceased in the following order: (10) paternal grandfather; (111 paternal grandmother; (12i maternal grandfather; (13 maternal grandmother; (14 i eldest living nephew; 11.5 I eldest living niece; (16) eldest living uncle on (he father’s side; (17i eldest living aunt on father’s side; (18) eldest living uncle on mother’s side; (19) eldest living aunt on the mother’s side.

The scroll is o; tHick paper in the form nf a rectangle. It bears ihe following inscription: “He whom this scroll commemorates was numbered among those who at the call of King and country left all that was dear In them, endured hardship, faced danger and finally passed out of the sight nf nian by the path of duty and self-sacri-fice; giving up their own jives that others might live in freedom. Let those that coma after see to it that this name be not forgotten.’’ This is followed by the inscription of the soldier's name and regiment. The whole inscription is surmounted by a device, including the Royal Arms in colour with the initials of His Majesty (he King.

The scrolls will be accompanied by the following letter from Buckingham Palace over His Majesty’s signature. “I Join with my grateful people in sending you this memorial of a brave life given for others in the great war.” The mementoes will lie distributed direct from Ease Records, Wellington, as soon aa they are available and individual applications are not necessary.