IMPERIAL LEAGUE OF AUSTRALIA

Southland Times, Issue 23346, 2 November 1937, Page 7

IMPERIAL LEAGUE OF AUSTRALIA

NIAGARA SUB-BRANCH’S ACTIVITY (United Press Association) AUCKLAND, November 1. When the liner Niagara reaches Honolulu on November 12 about 40 members of her crew, who form the Niagara sub-branch of the Returned Sailors’ and Soldiers’ Imperial League of Australia will place upon the cenotaph there a wreath to commemorate 28 British residents of Honolulu who fell in the Great War. The occasion will be honoured by the attendance of detachments from the United States army, air force and navy and will be fittingly celebrated. The wreath has been cleverly wrought in artificial wattle gum leaves and poppies to form the outline of the Australian coast. Mr James Urquhart, president of the sub-branch, will place the wreath on the cenotaph. Had the Niagara reached port on November 11 the date of the signing of the Armistice the ceremony would have formed part of the main Honolulu celebrations. Nevertheless through the co-operation of the United States authorities the returned men on the vessel will take part in a special ceremony. Mr Urquhart, himself, has had an interesting army career. He served with the Royal Scots Greys for 17 years and took part in both the South African war and the Great War. During the South African war he was captured by Boers and placed in a concentration camp but escaped within a few hours of his capture and found his way back to his own regiment. He went through the war without a scratch nor was he wounded in the Great War, but he was twice gassed in France. His only, son, who was a drummer-boy in the Liverpool Scottish was killed in France.