WAR MEMORIAL

Southland Times, Issue 19255, 20 June 1921, Page 6

WAR MEMORIAL

UNVEILING AT WAJANIWA SCHOOL. Wednesday afternoon last was regarded as the most important day in the history of Waianiwa and district, the occasion being the unveiling of a memorial to the memory of Waianiwa district soldiers. Fully 300 residents were present. The war memorial took the form of a concrete gateway leading to the well kept school grounds. On each side was a marble slab engraved with the names of the principal battlefields where New Zealand soldiers were engaged and also names of 100 men who actually saw service at the front. On the gate itself was affixed a bronze tablet bearing the following:— THE GREAT WAR. 1914-1919. IN MEMORIAM. Galt Robert Stevenson, Robt. E. Galt, Archibald D. Stewart, John Hay, Peter Stewart, William Laidlaw, William Y. Thompson, Ernest H. McLeod, John Wilson, Oliver McCallum, Duncan Wilson, John Bruce “At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them.” Mr T. Fraser, member of Southland County Council, presided, and the speakers were Messrs J. R. Hamilton, M.P., P. de la Perrelle (chairman of Southland Education Board), and G. F. Griffiths (headmaster of the school). They referred to the splendid heroism of the New Zealanders and the important part played by them in bringing victory to the Allies’ arms. Reference was also made by Mr Hamilton to the assistance being rendered returned men by the Government, and he assured his hearers that the latter would never let the soldier down. The speakers were warmly applauded for their addresses. The Rev. H. C. Gaut read the scriptural sentences and the firing party were under the command of Staff-Sergt.-Major Sutton. Two of the firing party were Waianiwa Main Body men, Sprgt. Eric Galt and Corporal Thomas Cull. The Last Post was sounded by Private Alex. McKay, M.M. The construction work was completed by Messrs Fraser & Co., Kelvin street, Invercargill, and it is worthy of note that all the materials used (including the marble slabs) were produced in New Zealand.