MEMORIAL AT KAPONGA

Taranaki Daily News, 26 April 1934, Page 14

MEMORIAL AT KAPONGA

ROLL OF HONOUR UNVEILED MEMORY OF THE GALLANT DEAD. “BODIES GIVEN COMMONWEALTH.” Combined with the Anzac service the soldiers’ war memorial at Victoria Park, Kaponga, was unveiled yesterday in the presence of a large gathering. There were also present many visitors from Hawera, Eltham, Opunake and other districts, including a parade of Frontiersmen, Girl Guides and Hawera Cadets. There was also a large contingent of returned men. The service opened in the town hall, ■ the chairman of the Town Board, Mr. A. R. Bates, presiding. The National Anthem and the hymn “O God Our Help” were sung, and the Rev. A. J. Farnell led prayer. Kipling’s Recessional and a short reading from Scripture were followed by a prayer of general thanksgiving, an address by the Rev. John Ings, Hawera, the hymn “O .Valiant Heart,” and the Benediction. In .the course of an inspiring address Mr. Ings said that April 25, 1915, was a never-to-be-forgotten day in the history of New Zealand. To-day they recalled the gallantry and deeds of heroism of those who went to fight for them, and now that the smoke of battle had ' passAd they had a clearer vision of that great undertaking. National righteousness stood very high in the Empire, said the speaker, who alluded to the influence of the King in the loyalty of the Indian Empire to Britain in the Great War. The i people should be grateful that they had ' on the Throne such a noble character as King George. Before unveiling the memorial, Mr. M. R. Jones, president of the South Taranaki Returned Soldiers’ Association, gave an address in ‘ the hall and thanked the people for the honour of asking him to perform this ceremony to the gallant men of the district who had donned the khaki eager for the work before them. In the 19 years that had elapsed ginrA these men had been struggling on the slopes of Gallipoli the people had been given an opportunity to estimate the service given by those who gave their lives to their country. There were 30 men from Kaponga district who had fallen; in the words of the Greek philosopher, “They gave their bodies to the commonwealth.” “To the kinsfolk of the immortal dead I echo these thoughts,” said Mr. .Jones. “Do not the dead still speak to us? Their message is to make New Zealand a better home for those who come after us. The memorial we are about to unveil will become one of the most cherished in the district. I reverently unveil this memorial to the memory of the ■ > gallant dead.” The congregation then adjourned to the gates, where the dedication ceremony was performed by the Rev. A. J. Farnell; wreaths were laid at the base of the pillar, the last honours were given by the firing party and the Last Post was sounded. Returned soldiers and visitors were afterwards entertained at afternoon tea. The memorial slab contains the names of the war dead and is inset in one of the pillars of the splendid new gates that have been erected at the entrance to Victoria Park. The inscription is:— “Kaponga District Roll of Honour, Great War, 1914-18,” and contains the follow-. ing names: H. L. Bates, J. Bewley, I. i Blackstock, L. A. D. Black, F. W. Cassidy, A. M. Cumberworth, *G. D. Dempsey; W. T. Faull, H. J. Faull, J. H. Gwyne, J. Gardner, A. Graham, C. Graham, J. C. Howie, N. R. Knight, C. W. Maru, R. Mawhinney, P. Murphy, H. Newton, D. Paterson, E. A. Quinn, H. E. Roper, W. H. Rawcliffe, S. Stevens, A. M. Sqott, W. C. Signal, D. E. Thoumine, A. O. Williams, R. E. Walsh, W. R. R. L. Barr. RAHOTU PAYS ITS TRIBUTE. LESSON TO SCHOOL CHILDREN. The Rahotu public hall was filled to capacity for the Anzac service. Wet weather necessitated a slight alteration in tn -i usual programme. Instead of the school children assembling in front of the school memorial arch they assembled in the open-air schoolroom, where Canon Newbold, vicar of Okato, briefly ' addressed them. He described a visit in England during the war period to a hospital especially for legless soldiers. He urged the children to remember that scene and when they grew up do all they could to prevent war so that there would be' no more such sights. Also when they met troubles in later ' life, he urged them to stand up to them cheerfully. as those soldiers had done. ; The children then paraded in front of the memorial gates and saluted wreaths ; being placed by children representing the Sunday school, the Rahotu school, the Kahui school and the junior Red Cross.

The Opunake Federal Band headed the parade, which included over 40 returned soldiers led by Lieutenant W. J. Wright, the Rahotu troop of the Queen Alex- , andra Mounted Rifles' under SergeantMajor Bell and the school children. They inarched to the memorial gates and back to the hall. Mr. Geo. Gibson presided at the service, which was opened by the band playing the National Anthem. The prayers were led by Canon Newbold and Mr. C. Field and the lessons were read by the Rev. J.i G. Grindlay and Mr. Gibson. Mrs. Clemence sang the solo “Beyond,” Miss Eileen Hughson playing the accompaniment. The address was given by Mr. Penn, who again based his remarks on “Lest We Forget,” speaking on the same lines as at Opunake. The hymns were accompanied by the band, which also played a selection. The Last Post and the Reveille were sounded by Bandsman C. Humphries. The collection, which amounted to £6 18s, will after the small expenses have been met be forwarded to the New Plymouth Poppy Day fund, as will also a donation of £2 2s from the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union and 15s from the Rahotu school children. During the war they had attended many farewell gatherings in that hall to men who were leaving for the front and had welcomed many on their return; there were many, however, who did not return, said the chairman. It must not be forgotten that the gathering that day was a grateful commemoration of those who had fallen. As the father of a son who had fallen, on behalf of his wife and himself and of the parents whose sons had fallen he thanked the people for the magnificent gathering that day. After the Benediction had been pronounced by Mr. Penn the returned soldiers and their wives were entertained at afternoon tea by the Rahotu branch of the Women’s Division. Mr. Gibson expressed the thanks of the committee to the ladies and to the Opunake band for their assistance. He referred to a suggestion that had emanated from Opunake asking whether it would be possible for the Rahotu district to hold its service in the morning to allow the Opunake service to be held in the afternoon, stating that while they could take no exception to Opunake wishing to hold the service it was felt that as the Rahotu service had been held in the afternoon. ever since the close of the war it would not be advisable to make a change.

Mr, Tosland, vice-president of the

Opunake Returned Soldiers’ Association, said that the branch had no wish to run counter to Rahotu. It was only last year that Opunake had held a morning service, having previously held the service at night. It was felt by the Opunake branch that if an afternoon service were held, say, every alternate year it would be possible to arrange a re-union afterwards at which soldiers from the whole district could meet. TARIKI ANZAC SERVICE. s CROWD GATHERS AT CHURCH. Anzac Day was celebrated at Tariki with a service in the church conducted by the Rev. R. S. Keenan, Inglewood, at which there was an attendance too great for the accommodation. The memorial outside the church was surrounded with wreaths among which were two from the Tariki returned soldiers and the Tariki platoon of the Ist Battalion Taranaki Regiment. Rain showers swept over and the service was held inside, concluding with a short ceremony around the memorial afterwards. Mr. Keenan took as his text, “Thou, therefore, my son, endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ,” from St. Paul’s Epistle to Timothy. If ever there was a man who deserved the name of a soldier it was the battler, St. Paul, said Mr. Keenan. Where the psalmist thought of life as a flower to be cut off, St. John thought of it as a ship and St. James as a vapour arising. Others saw life variously as a journey, a tale, a race to be run. St. Paul always talked of life as a battle; he was familiar with things military. Timothy and Paul both discovered that the Christian life was beset with hardships, continued Mr. Keenan, and the returned men found, too, that for their cause they had had to endure often unspeakable hardships. Anzac Day was to be thought of as a day of fresh dedication in the war against war. Chirst was to be thought of as a soldier waging war against injustice and unrighteousness, not only succouring those who were lost but also destroying the works of the devil; they should think of him as typifying the upright noble and soldierly virtues, obedience, courage, self-sacrifice and magnanimity.

“As the years recede,” continued the speaker, “we look for leaders who will guide us, not into war, but out of war, men of undaunted courage to bear the great issues of the day. The greatest victories are not the victories cf war but the victories of peace. To-day, our greatest battles are not fought on the battlefield but in the shop, the factory, the office, the home and in the heart. “Therefore, my son, endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.’ ” The body of ex-servicemen, numbering 17, and the Tariki platoon under Ser-geant-Major J. L. O. Rowe ; araded in front of the memorial and the Last Post

and Reveille were played by Bugler S. Lovell, Inglewood. “KEEP THE DAY SACRED.” EXHORTATION AT OKATO. Despite cold and wet weather there was a representative attendance at Hempton Hall, Okato, for the memorial service, which was conducted by Canon Newbould and the Rev. J. G. Grindlay. There was a good muster of returned soldiers, who paraded under Lieutenant E. Corbett, and of members of the Okato troop of the Queen Alexandra Mounted Rifles under Quartermaster-Sergeant Homer. . They were that day remembering the greatest catastrophe that had taken place on earth, said Canon Newbould in prefacing his address. They looked back somewhat with shame on the tragic happening of civilisation, but were proud [at the way they had stood together. The young people should try to remember the way that Great Britain had stepped into the war to assist a small nation in redemption of her given word. He gave some of his experiences at war hospitals in England, showing the cheerfulness of the grievously injured men. The war to the young people to-day was history. There were many, however, to whom it had not passed, including those who had lost loved ones and those who had taken part in its horrors. There remained the cause of all the war—the spirit of envy, malice, fear and cowardice—but they must strive against it if they wanted to avoid another such great war. A way must be found to settle all differences, whether individual or national, without recourse to war, and that could be done only by working for peace in the way that the Prince of Peace would desire. Mr. Grindlay remarked that the splendid attendance was an answer to those who said Anzac Day should be held on the Sunday nearest April 25. All returned men and parents should make a strong protest to have the day kept as fresh as ever and held sacred to be used for the purpose for which it had been set aside.

A collection was taken to be devoted to the Blind Institute. Miss Peterson played the piano. Floral offerings were placed by school children and others at the Cenotaph. Some beautiful wreaths were placed at the base of the Omata Cenotaph yesterday morning. SOLEMN REQUIEM MASS. ST. JOSEPH’S CHURCH, HAWERA. A solemn requiem mass for the soldiers killed on Gallipoli was celebrated at St. Church* Hawera, j«esterdajr

morning. The celebrant was the Rt. Rev. Monsignor P. Cullen. The difficult and sad music of the mass was beautifully sung by the school children under the conductorship of Sister Charles • SCHOOLS’ COMMEMORATION. SPECIAL SERVICES HELD. In every Taranaki primary and secondary school special mention has been made to the students of the story of Anzac and its significance to the nation. Cadets of the New Plymouth Boys High School fell in on the cricket ground at 9.30 yesterday morning and marched to the memorial gates, where wreaths were placed while the school buglers sounded) the Post , . j x * Among many schools the students oi which made wreaths for the Cenotaph was the New Plymouth Girls’ High School, from which a large party of girls attended the early morning service. Special preparation of the memorial service hymns was also made. A short ceremony was conducted at the Hawera High School on Tuesday, when Mr. M. H. Jones addressed the students, and the head girl, Betty, Woods, read Lawrence Binyon’s poem, “For the Fallen.” The Rev. Whitby James read the service. Ceremonies were also held at the Hawera primary schools. Pupils from Standards 2 to 6 of the Fitzroy school were assembled at the school gymnasium on Tuesday afternoon, and Mr. G. A’. Lyall addressed them on the subject. “Gratitude and Ingratitude.” Kipling’s Recessional and J. Maughan Barnett’s setting of the Anzac Anthem were sung. Mr. G. Davey gave an address on the symbolism of the picture “Menin Gate at Midnight,” and described the battle of Passchendaele, in which he took part. At the conclusion of the ceremony the pupils gave the ceremonial salute and wreaths were placed ■on the memorial gate.