“THEIR MEMORY LIVETH.”

Taranaki Daily News, 13 November 1922, Page 6

“THEIR MEMORY LIVETH.”

OKATO SOLDIERS’ MEMORIAL. THE UNVEILING CEREMONY. It is a far call from the battle-fields of France, Gallipoli, and Egypt to the township of Okato, yet the link that binds them is a dark granite monument on which are emblazoned in letters of gold the names of those who, at the call of Empire, left comfortable farms and thriving country businesses to serve at the war. Some of tlyisc men did not return, and in perpetuation of their gallant memory a monument was unveiled at Okato yesterday in the presence of a large crowd representative of all parts of the district. including several car-loads of people from New Plymouth. The leaden skies were appropriately in keeping with the Solemnity of the occasion, and though the sunlight filtered through and the rain ceased during the impressive little ceremony, the last plaintive notes of the “Last Post” had scarcely died away be- t fore the rain beat down once more. The I unveiling ceremony was .performed by • the Ven. Archdeacon F. G. Evans, while the Rev. A. H. Coleman (Anglican vicar j of Okato) read the lesson from chapter | 3 of the Wisdom of Solomon, and offer- | ed prayers for the fallen and the sor- , rowing. Amongst others present wew ■ i Messrs. S. G. Smith, M.P.; F. E. Wil- i son (Mayor of New Plymouth); am! I C. H. Burgess (Mayor during the ) greater part of the war period). Led j by the New Plymouth Battalion Band, who had assembled in full force, the large gathering sang the three appropriate hymns, “0 God Our Help,’’ “Fight the Good Fight,” and £ipling’s Recessional, “God of Our •Fathers.” Over 30 returned men from New Plymouth wore present in uniform. These, with the Okato contingent, made a total strength < of over sixty ex-so]diers present. lieutenant T. Hopkins was in command. SACRIFICES TO REMEMBER. “I feel it a great honor to unveil this monument erected in memory of those soldiers who paid the great price in the war.” said the Ven. Archdeacon Evans. It was a magnificent thing to perpetuate the memory of those gallant boy>s who had died for us; it would be a monstrous thing if New Zealand forgot those gallant men who had away but had not come back again. We who had profited by their self-denial should i sav with St. Paul: “I thank God for every remembrance of them.’ The speaker always felt the tremendous solemnity of Armistice Day, when the whole world seemed to stand still; and for what? Why, to remember those gallant boys. Parents remembered sons, friends remembered friends, comrades remembered comrades. It was a time of remembrance of noble deeds and great sacrifices, and no ope could estimate the sacrifices made in the war by all; by parents, by boys, by men who had left their businesses and professions. “Let us never forget the greatness of the sacrifices,” urged the archdeacon. 3 f He remembered the first parade or volunteers at the Coronation Hall after the war broke out. The adjutant had told the men that it was no light task they were undertaking: probably none of them would come back, and he urged anv who feared the prospect to fall oils.. Only one of that great company fell out.' These men had counted the cost, and had willingly made the great sacrifice in the most gloriously cheerful way. He had seen the men in camp in New Zealand, in two of the war areas (Egypt and France); 16.000 Imperial soldiers had passed through the hospital ships while the speaker was on the Channel run; he had seen the men m pain, in discomfort, and in death. The mon were ‘always cheerful; they went to the limit of human endurance with a smile on their lips. Tims it. was fitting to have an imperishable monument to remind succeeding generations of the noble men who bad gone before. It was especially appropriate that the monument should be near the school, wheic the children could read the names oi those who had fallen. “One thing more I want to say. added the archdeacon. “It is this: Are we worthy of the sacrifice these men made? We want to be more worthy, to maav our country more worthy, make it free, pure and good for men. women and the little children, and make it indeed God’s own country.” A STRIKING MONUMENT. As the archdeacon loosed the tape which Hound the Union Jack to the monument he said: “In honored, memory of the men from this district who gave their lives in the great war for King and country, and in the cause or freedom and righteousness, I unveil this monument. May their names ever bo held in honor, and may their sacrifice inspire those who come after them tn deeds of service and love for their fellow men. Amen.” In a passing burst of sunlight the memorial was exposed to view. It is of simple design, consisting of a tall dark granite column, capped with white, and resting on a concrete foundation, the structure being enclosed by a low concrete wall. The situation has been well chosen, the memorial stand’ng. on a site opposite the. Hempton Hall and close to the school, where many of the fallen men had received their early education. The monument is in full view of all passers-by. The names of the fallen are as follows: — “For King and Country.” Lieutenant E. L. Malone. Sergeant G. L. Newlove. Corporal J. H. Burrows. Lance-Corporal J. Clark. Lane-Corporal H. A. Corbett. Trobper R. Kelly. Private W. Clark. Private A. Corbett. Private H. Gordge. Private R. I. Hill. Private A. E. Howell.• Private S. H. Julian. Private C. O’Connor. Private W. J. Simpson. Private E. C. Tunnecliff. Private A. E. Ellis. “Greater Love Hath No Man.” - j On the adjoining face is the inscr-p--t tion: “Erected by the residents of the 3 Okato district in everlasting memory of their soldiers who their lives for

the Empire during the great war, 19141918.” On behalf of the relatives of the fallen men, Mrs. Matthew Hill laid a laurel wreath at the foot of the column. Numerous other wreaths were also placed within the enclosure. t “NOT AN EMPTY VAULT.” As the member of Parliament representing the district, Air. S. Smith eXr pressed the great honor he felt in being associated with the people of Okato ‘on a sad but glorious occasion. Recently Sir Francis Bell had unveiled a memorial in France to the men of New Zealand. and he had said on that occasion that the memorial was not on empty vault, but a record of the living and the dead. In Okato that day they were showing that they also remembered those who had given their lives in the war. The one feature of the memorial that appealed to the speaker was its grand simplicity. In concluding lie expressed the hope that the lessons to be learned from the sacrifices made would spur us on to be better citizens,* to keep our flag unsullied, and to live our lives in a way that would show that we had not forgotten the sacrifices made by our soldiers. On behalf of the Okato settlers, Mf. R. F. Roebuck (chairman of the memorial committee) expressed thanks to the band and to the returned soldiers. It was gratifying, he said, to see* the number of returned men who had assembled, and this showed that they, at least, had no,t forgotten. The sounding of the “Last Post” by Bandsman W. Kay, and the pronouncing of the Benediction by Archdeacon Evans, brought an impressive ceremony to a close. Afterwards those present were provided with an excellent afternoon tea. in the hall, the catering committee comprising Mesdames F. Ansley, W. J. Gray, S. Larcombe, and Miss Madge Ansley.