THREE YEARS SPANNED

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 68, Issue 5924, 27 March 1944, Page 3

THREE YEARS SPANNED

RANGIAOHIA FUNCTION

ROLL OF HONOUR UNVEILED Three major wars of the Empire were spanned at a function in the Rangiaohia Hall, Hairini, yesterday afternoon. That function which added another milestone to the already historic associations of that district was the unveiling of a Roll of Honour Board to the men and women of Hai-

rini and district who served in the South 'African War of 1898-1902, the

Great War ctf 1914-1918, and who ? served or are serving in the present war which started in 1939. Despite the inclement weather the hall was crowded to capacity, young and old joining in paying tribute to those whom they knew sg well. Mr W. S. Goosman was to have performed the ceremony but Parliamentary duties prevented him from doing so, but as the chairman, Mr A. B. White, said, an excellent substitute in the person of Mr B. Malone, president of the Te Awamutu Returned Services’ Association, unveiled the Roll of Honour. Among the official visitors were Mi and Mrs B. Malone, the Mayor and Mayoress of Te Awamutu, Mr and Mrs L. G. Armstrong, Mrs Richmond, mother of the late Flight Lieutenant O. Richmond, who made a special trip from Gisborne, Rev. Forde Carlisle and Mrs Carlisle, and Mr S. C. B. Macky, chairman Waipa County Council.

After the singing of the National Anthem and prayer by the Rev. Forde Carlisle, the chairman, Mr A. B. White, after welcoming the visitors, said they were met together to do honour to the men and women of the district who had served or were serving overseas. He specially mentioned Mrs Richmond to whom he extended sincere sympathy. The Hairini district fulfilled all its obligations both in Patriotic and Red Cross work, and they had not lagged behind so far as their manpower commitments were concerned. The Roll of Honour Committee had had its setbacks, but now they possessed one that they could be justifiably proud. Mr .Malone, in unveiling the Roll of

Honour, said: We are assembled here for the unveiling of a Roll of Honour commemorating those of this district who in the World War No. 1 offered themselves, and in World War No. 2 are offering themselves in the cause of Liberty and Freedom. There never was a war before in which the whole people was engaged directly or indirectly; war in which men went forth to fight in the full consciousness of what they did. Not one of those whose names are commemorated on this Roll of Honour but went forth with the full knowledge that he was fighting for what he and his countrymen believed to be right, for the liberties I of the world—preservation from those things which the enemy would impose upon us—too horrible to think about. We commemorate some who fell in that belief—and some who may—though we pray not—yet fall in that belief, perhaps not uttered by themselves, that somehow or other their lives might be given to promote the betterment of this world.

The struggle has been long. War has come nearer to our own country and for a time we were in dire peril. This country serves as a base for our Allies and though not a bomb has fallen, not a shell has burst on our fair land, it is true to say that we have this time faced something of the material realities of war—the things of the heart, and the sorrows of war have always been with us and our people—the fathers and mothers, the wives and children—have their share of the burden of sorrow. We humbly acknowledge with all our hearts pride in our men and women who are overseas. We sense in the silences and quiet moments the grief of those bereft, and we pray that time will bring solace to those on whose homes there are vacant

places and to those whose ties of friendship are broken. May they and we remember that there will some day be that great Roll Call which all shall answer together. Of those who did not answer the Roll Call let us remember that peace is theirs. It has been said of those who have gone before that “In the sight of the universe they seem to die, and their departure is utter misery, and their going from us to be utter destruction, but they are in peace.” A peace that is denied to us. “They shall not grow old as we that are left grow old, age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn,” quoted Mr Malone. In many ways we who are left behind have greater tribulations than those for whom we sorrow. We must lookto the future with stout hearts and high courage. As Abraham Lincoln said, we must show an increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion. Superhuman efforts must be made to make the world a better place. We must clear away the dross and leave for future generations the bright clean metal of everlasting peace and goodwill. They should pause and in reading their names think what their sacrifice meant to each. The least we can do for those who served and came through, and particularly those who in serving gave their lives, is to go out into the world and do what we can for the world, and at this end say they have not served and died in vain Mr Malone in pulling aside the New Zealand Ensign which covered the Roll of Honour, said: “With those thoughts in our minds I now unveil this Roll of Honour, and may it serve to remind us of the men and women who did their duty. May eternal honour be theirs,” concluded Mr Malone. The Rev. Forde Carlisle said he felt he occupied an honoured position as he was firstly the President of the Ministers’ Association, and in that official position and personally he was glad of the opportunity to assist in the time of recognition to the men who had gone from the district to defend our shores. While he did not know any of them he had a feeling of very direct affinity and fellowship. In referring to those commemorated on the Roll of Honour, the speaker referred to Lloyd George’s attitude towards the South African War which he did not consider a just war. There

were always those who thought war could be avoided, but it does not detract in the slightest degree from the bravery and great noble efforts made by men. War in its last analysis was a negation of the underlying principles of Christianity, and unless those principles were recognised and submitted to there would be another war. After 2000 years of Christian principles we have a devastating destructive war. It is better to be classified as a pessimist by looking back on the facts than to be an incorrigible optimist. It is only by looking facts in the face that we will be able to avert another cataclysm. Much was heard of the new order and a new world, but there will be no new world unless there is a turning to God. Only by a recognised submission to the Divine principles that such can be brought about. No mere lip utterance or slogan would get them anywhere. Jesus Christ was the one way of approach to God’s presence. It was tragic to think that the children of to-day were to be the soldiers of to-morrow. They should not be trained with the supreme idea that they were going to war. We were told that the Great War was to be the war that would end wars. We did- not want our boys to be sacrificed to the god of war. In the broken laws of God the innocent had to suffer with the guilty. Man was the nearest piece of Divine creation close to God, but wars seem to suggest he is the nearest to the gorillas. It was pitiful that science was prostituted to the means of destruction. Thb boys of the Hairini district had noi side-stepped their duty. They had gone to save the situation, and as they gathered to do honour to them they felt that they would not let them down, and die and suffer in vain. Mr H. Mandeno addressed his remarks to the children. That afternoon should mean a great deal to them. He trusted they would never in any way disfigure the Roll of Honour, but always preserve it, and think of the men and women whose names were inscribed thereon, and to realise how fortunate they were to live in this beautiful land. The Jews had a Roll of Honour and it had only one name, and that name was God. The Feast of the Passover was instituted to remind the Children of Israel that God had brought them out of slavery. The children should remember that the names on the board were the implements to save our country from the horrors of war. He referred to God’s help towards men. It was the children’s part to see a better world born, and it remained for them to see that they so lived their lives to bring it about. The name of Rangiaohia appealed to him more than Hairini, and he appealed to them to preserve the old historic name. It was said that a rose by any other name would smell as sweet, but the name Rangiaohia had deep associations, for it was there that the Maoris fought bravely to defend this spot. Colonel Nixon fell not very far away from the hall, and many an English soldier also fell. Hairini was the name of the hill where Mr Hall’s house stands, while Rangiaohia was the name of the whole district. One blockhouse was where the flagstaff was and the early settlers had to patrol the country to see that the natives did not cross the Punui River.

Mr S. C. B. Macky, chairman of the Waipa County Council, congratulated the people of the district on their splendid response to the call of duty. Many of the South African veterans’ fathers had fought in the Maori War. They were the pioneeiw of Empire, and their love of that Empire had been inculcated in the hearts of their children. There still existed that love of freedom which caused men to sacrifice themselves. He trusted the children would always remember the men who had served and died in the three wars.

During the ceremony the hymns “Eternal Father” and “0 God of Love, O God of Peace” were sung, Mrs Debbie being the accompanist. The Roll of Honour is made of walnut, and is a particularly fine piece of craftsmanship. The names are inscribed in gold. The centre piece containing the names of those serving in the present war is only a temporary one, and when the war is over the complete roll will be inserted in its place.

The ladies served a sumptuous afternoon tea with the hospitality that country people have a reputation for. The ceremony was one that will long be remembered by those privileged to take part therein, for it was dignified yet simple. The names inscribed on the board are:— RANGIAOHIA ROLL OF HONOUR South African War, 1898-1902:—A. Bertram, A. Bockett, G. Bockett, P. Bockett, B. Bolland, K. Holden, R. Holden, J. Long, H. Mandeno, H. McGiven. World War, 1939-: —J. Brodie, P. Brom, R. Connelly, P. Dinsdale, L. Dodd,’ F. Foreman, C. Halliday, A. Hansen, N. Hansen, V. Hansen, D. Hodgson, D. Hope, W. Learning, A. Mandeno, D. Mandeno, H. Peake, O. Richmond, N. Robertson, M. Ryland, H. Snell, D. Southall, J. Spiers, N. Spiers, M. Traver, M.C., A. Vette, A. J. Vette, W. Wilton, S. Wright, G. Storey. Great War, 1914-18.—Sister A. Mandeno, Sister M. Mandeno, T. Deeney, E. Fridson, C. Holden, E. Holden, F. Kay, R. Newens, W. Reid, H. Spragg, R. Spragg, H. Walker, J. Walker, A. Weal, C. Weal, E. Whineray, C. Whitehouse. Home Service:—P. Long, W.A.A.F., C. Rennie, M. Strawbridge, W.A.A.C.