SOLDIERS’ MEMORIAL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16649, 24 January 1920, Page 7

SOLDIERS’ MEMORIAL.

UNVEILING CEREMONY AT AWAKINO. The Awakino district has a record of sendee in the war of which it) can justly feel proud, 54 of its young men having responded to the call of Empire in its time of need, and of this number fourteen made the supreme sacrifice. In order to perpetuate the memory of these men the settlers some time ago decided to erect a fitting memorial, and a committee consisting of Messrs. L. R. Jones (chairman and secretary), AA 7 . J. R. Avery, J. M'Neice, P. J, AVoolfe and T. Cummings was appointed to further the proposal. After careful consideration it was agreed that the memorial should take the form of a concrete arch with suitable gate and wall in front of the Awakino Hall. The whole memorial has been effectively designed and the work admirably carried out. The arch, which is of Gothic design, is twelve feet high and twelve feet wide, with massive pillars in which marble tablets have been fixed bearing the names of the fallen and the roll of honour. The gateway is six-feet wide and seven feet, six inches high, and the concrete wall is four feet nine inches high. The unveiling ceremony took place on Thursday afternoon in fine weather and in the presence of a very large and representative gathering. Among visitors present were Lieut-Col. Weston, D. 5.0., commander of the Taranaki Legion of Frontiersmen, who was accompanied by Staff Officer Lieut. Goldsworthy, Staff-Secretary Oapt. Gilbert, and Staif-Sergeant-Major Hine. Frontiersmen were also largely in attendance from the local corps and also from Rnhotu. Olr. Boddy, chairman of the Awakino County Council, was present, as were some 50 returned soldiers, under Corporal A. G. Jones., _Mr. L. R. Jones presided and referred with satisfaction to the large gathering which had assembled to do honour to the men who had left the Awakino district to assist the Empire in its hour of need. On behalf of the residents of the Awakino district he extended a hearty welcome to the visitors present, particularly mentioning Col. Weston and Air. Boddy. Ho also expressed regret at the absence of Air. Jennings, ALP., who was expected to lie present, but had telegraphed -an apology from AA’ellington.

Mr. Boddy expressed his pleasure at being present on such a memorable occasion, which would over dwell in the memory of ail present, and particularly in the memory of residents of Awakino. The memorial was indeed -a magnificent one and distinctly creditable to those responsible for it, and to those settlers of the district who had provided the funds. Ho thought that people had not given the.thought they should towards tho erection of memorials, which he considered should be as this was, something tangible, something substantial, something that would be here for all time as a. reminder of the trials that our brave men had gone through. THE UNVEILING. While the returned soldiei's and members of the Legion of Frontiersmen stood «t attentiouLieut.-Col. Weston unveiled the tablets and the roll of honour simultaneously. The tablets wore inscribed ■is follow: On tho, one side:—“For Freedom’s Cause.—Dedicated by the people of Awaldno to tho memory of those fourteen Awakino soldier boys, who made the supreme sacrifice in the Great War. 1914-1918.” Whilst on the other side appears tho names of the fourteen soldier boys who fell. They are as follow: Lance-Sergt. M. Beck (M.M.), Corp. A. R. Black, Pvt. S. M. Black, N. P. Batley, B. H Condon. 0. B. Carrington, H. Chambers, A. Kellv, IV. Luck, -I. M-Geo, Lnnce-Sergt; T. A. Parr, IV. Preston, R. Paul, and P. Sparrow. The roll of honour, which was placed in tho centre of the arch, contained the words “Roll of Honour, dedicated to tho soldier boys of the Awakino district who answered the call of duty in the Great War, 1914-1918. In addition to tho names of those killed it contained che following names;—Wounded : Pvts. 11. C. Black, A. Blanchard, 0. G. Begnill, T. Carrington, IV. Carrington, Corp. IV. 11. Cummings, Pvts. P. Howard, T. Hitchins, Corp. A. G. Jones, ’Pvts. J.'.Lowe, J. Morteson, Sorgt. E. W. Parr, Lance-Corp. V. Payne, Pvts. II; Shoesmith, IV. Soffe, H. Soffo, E. Saunders, P. Webster. Also E. L. Black (M.M.), D. Bowers, M. Collins, T. Cummings, H. Dundon, Corp. IV. <). Fisher, Pvts. P. J. J. Harrison, IV. Hackett, I\>. P. Kelly, C. Moore, J. MTntosh, N. Ordish,. A. O’Neill, IV. Parr, H, Pearce, C. Rae, B. A. Sven*on. J. Thompson, H. Tucker, A. Uliger and IV. Volker. Below tho tablet was a laurel wreath. I

cJOL. WESTON’S ADDRESS. Col. Weston, in the course of his address, said he considered it a great honour to be asked to unveil the memorial to men who had left the district to serve the Empire. One could share in the appreciation felt by the people of Taranaki at the action of their young men, who it was felt had made history for New Zealand, which they should hand down to future generations as traditions of the country. Battered flags,'great monuments, etc., were great factors in preserving and encouraging regimental spirit, esprit de corps, in schools, or patriotism in a nation. The history of tho old crusaders never failed to stir our blood when we were young, and yet the story of tho way in which the boys of tho back country left their farms and stations at the call of the bugle, and went thousands of miles across the sea was just as fine as that of old crusaders and old sailors. Moreover, when they got there they proved great fighters, and during the intervals of pears chivalrous gentlemen, and one could say to their fathers and mothers that they were indeed worthy of this great memorial. They had gone in the full flush of life with eyes open and fearless hearts-to fight for their Empire. He could only recall personally four of lie hoys whoso names appeared on the list, viz.: Scrgt. Beck, Corp. Black, Sergt. Parr, and Pvt, Black, but whenever he thought of them, which was not seldom, he thought of them with feelings of deepest affection and respect. If tho monument served to perpetuate in this country tho spirit that actuated those men, tho inhabitants of Awakino would have done a great service to their country. The ceremony concluded with the singing of the national anthem, after present were entertained to afternoon tea in the hall by the ladies of Awakino, musical items being rendered by Mesdames M’Neice and Christofferson and Misses Thomson and E. 0. Sullivan.

A DINNER. In the evening the residents of Awskino entertained the returned soldiers with their wives, or in the case of single men, with their fathers and mothers.

to dinner in the Awakino Hall, which had been beautifully decorated for the occasion. In all about SO guests were present and full justice was done to the many good things provided. Prior to commencing a short toast list, those present stood in silence for a- moment in, memory of the honoured dead. A. toast list was then honoured as follows: “The King,' 1 proposed by the chair-man; “The Navy and the Army.” proposed by Mr. AA 7 . D. Thomson and responded to by Col. Weston and Mr. Tuvin; “Our Guests; The Returned Soldiers,” proposed by the chairman, and responded to by Capt. Gilbert and Corp. Jones; “The Ladies,” proposed by Mr, AV. J. It. Avery .who expressed tile thanks of the committee for the splendid assistance given by the ladies, without whom the function that day could not have been such a success, and responded to by Mr. Kcay, returned soldier. THE BALL. The proceedings closed with a ball, which was very largely attended. Mr. B. Condon acted as M.C. and Ales dam es Christofferson and M'Ncico provided the music extras being played by Aressrs. O’Sullivan and'Messrs. Ridliag, L-ouissin (Palmerston North), and AUGregor. Air. Riffling, a returned soldier, contributed a number of songs, and Mr. AlTlao, of New Plymouth, gave a number ot dances. An excellent supper was dispensed by the ladies.