ROLL OF HONOUR

Southland Times, Issue 19726, 28 December 1922, Page 2

ROLL OF HONOUR

UNVEILED AT DRUMMOND SCHOOL. Prior to the presentation of prizes at the annual break-up the school Roll of Honour was unveiled in the presence of a good number of parents and friends. The head teacher, in a few introductory remarks, stated that the scholars had decided to put the Roll of Honour into a more permanent form. With this end in view they had canvassed the district and, with the funds obtained, were enabled to erect the Roll, and in addition, to purchase a number of poplar trees, which they planted in memory of these heroes. Ihe panel was of polished rimu, designed by the pupils and kindly donated by Mr Ewan Kennedy, a local returned soldier. Neatly written in gold lettering were the names of the following thirteen ex-pupils of the school who had made the supreme sacrifice during the Great, War:-r-J. Allison, W. A. Blanch, W. Blanch, J. Brown, W. Brown, A. Cochrane, S. Grant, J. Hardy, W. Jones, R. Johnstone, F Lindsay, R. Marson, T. McFarlane.

Mr J. Shearer briefly addressed the pupils, saying that he had known most of these men well, not only during their school days, when they sat. there in the very places the children were occupying that day, but later on at the battlefront. He complimented them on their thoughtfulness and enterprise in erecting such a fine memorial and thanked them for the honour of assisting in the ceremony. The pupils sang “The Requiem” in honour of the departed heroes and then Mr J. C. Thomson, M.P., performed the unveiling ceremony. In his address to the children the speaker congratulated them for the impulse which led them to erect such a fine roll of honour. He was sure that it would be a source of great comfort to the parents and relaiives of the men to know that though they were forgotten by the majority yet here they would always be remembered and their great sacrifice honoured by the succeeding generations. He hoped they would frequently study the names and find there always an inspiration towards those higher things which go to build up character. After uncovering the panel the speaker read through the names and as each hero was called the children came to the salute. This brought to c -lou a ceremony which must leave a deep impression on the heart* of the pupils and which in after years ther will recall with deep interest