EXCHANGE OF FLAGS

Southland Times, Issue 19655, 4 October 1922, Page 5

EXCHANGE OF FLAGS

INTERESTING WAR STORY ’ LEVIN’S JOST EMBLEM. I Special to the Times,) WELLINGTON, October 3. When the Prime Minister visited the Levin School this morning to hoist a flag and address the children, mention was made of a flag that was missing. An interesting story had been partially unravelled, and Mr Massey promised to give his assistance in completing it. During the early part of the Great War, Nurse Lewis, who gained high distinction while serving with the Serbian forces, coUecterl a sum of money in the Otaki district for the purchase of an ambulance and two New Zealand flags. One of these flags went away with the Maori Pioneer Battalion,«»and the other with the Rifle Brigade. They were to be returned to the Dominion ar the close of the war, so that one might hang in the Otaki School and the other in the Levin School. The flag carried by the Maoris did come back and was placed in the Otaki School. The whereabouts of ibe other flag is not yet definitely known, but there is groupd for believing that it bangs in the Town Hall of Ijc Quesnoy. After the New Zea landers had taken Le Quesnoy from the Germans in November, 1918, the Mayor of the French city presented a Tricolmir to the New Zealand division, and a Dominion flag in exchange. There was some difficulty about complying with the request. The Division was in lighting trim and was not carrying flags, but a New Zealand Ensign was found and was handed over to the Mayor, who promised that it would remain always in.a. place, of honour in the ancient town hall of his city. The Tricolour was brought back to New Zea land and is at present in the j»ossession of Brigadier-General Ilan. It is to be placed eventually in the new Cathedral in Wellington. The flag that remained in Le Quesnoy is believed to be the one that was intended to come back to Levin. : Mr W. H. Field, M.P., t said to-day that he has made many inquiries regarding the flag, and the military authorities had been unable to give him any information. He intended to push the matter further, and ascertain as definitely us possible whether or not the flag now at Le Quesnoy was one of the flags sent from the Otaki electorate. If it was the same flag he presumed that it could not be brought back to New Zealand, but in that case the children of the Levin School should be given a chance to see the French Tricolour that had been exchanged under such dramatic circumstances for their flag.