WAR MEDALS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16721, 23 April 1920, Page 5

WAR MEDALS.

MEMORIALS TO DECEASED. Now that practically tho whole of the N.Z.E.F. has returned to tho Dominion it is commonly thought that the work in Base Records Office, Wellington, is drawing to a close, but this is quite contrary to fact. Tho officer in charge of that branch of the Defence Department advises that the rolls for the issue of all service medals aro now being prepared, and is throwing heavy work on the stall. There are the files of approximately 100,000 men to bo carefully examined so that a< flawless record of their war service may be compiled, ancl it is not difficult to realise that the task is one that will not be completed for a considerable time. The first issue, the 11)14-15 Star, is now well in hand, and many returned soldiers aro already in possession of this medal. Tho stars are being released in strictly alphabetical order, first to surviving soldiers, and when this is complete, to Die next-of-kin of deceased soldiers. No departure from this rule will-be permitted. In all about 28,000 stars arc to bo issued to New Zealand soldiers. The British War Medals and the Victory Medals have not yet been received from tho War Office, London, but pending their arrival the soldiers’ service cards are being prepared so that ns little delay as possible may occur when tho medals come to hand. The regulations governing the issue of all medals to the relatives of deceased soldiers provide that where a will does not otherwise dispose of the medals, iho following order of next-of-kin shall bo observed; — fa) Widow. (Id Eldest surviving son. (r) Eldest surviving daughter. (d) Father, (e) Mother. (D Eldest surviving brother, tg) Eldest surviving sister. (li) Eldest surviving half-brother. (i> Eldest surviving half-sister.

Each case not provided for under the regulations will be decided upon its merits, on tho principle that the medal should go to the person best able to preserve it as a memorial to the deceased.

It is a part of tbo training of a soldier that an}' change of address he may make should ho notified at the base, and as a consequence very little difficulty has he?n mot with in communicating with the men. Tho same cannot ho said, however, of tho next-of-kiu. It is a matter for regret - thqt the next-of-kin. of many of our soldiers who fell on the battlefields remain untraccd, and that photographs of graves and returned effects cannot be delivered to them. What is to become of the medals in those cases it is too early to say, but it is hoped that many will reveal their whereabouts in due course, A large number of soldiers, on joining the forces,'did not nominate their legal next-of-kin, but gave the name of a brother, sister, or friend, when one or both parents were alive. Obviously this was done to spare their parents the first shock of any official telegram of a distressing nature from the front, but the practice is one that is creating groat difficulties in the issue of medals, etc. It is not an uncommon thing for u file to give no information regarding blood relations, and relatives of deceased soldiers would be dojpg the department a service if they would notify Base Records of the name and address of the legal next-of-kin. MEMORIALS TO BECK AS ED. It has been decided that a memorial shall bo presented to tho legal next-of-kin of all those members of the Now Zealand Expeditionary Force who lost ihcir lives through the var. This memorial is to lake tho form of a bronze plaque of emblematic design and a parchment scroll with appropriate wording. The planuc which measures I-Jin. in diameter and Jin. in tbtekucss. will bear the deceased’s Christian names and surname. Tho scroll, which measures llin. by Tin., will boar his rank, Christian names, surname, and regiment. The memorial will be accompanied by a letter from his Majesty tho King. The recipient is .to ho tho Mood next-of-kin of the deeoased at the time of distribution of the memorial and there is no question of legal succession to the plaque and scroll. They wili not he issued to any legatee under a will in preference to the ne.xt-nf-kin. The order of next-of-kin is laid down us follows ;

(a) AVidow. (b) Eldest surviving son. (c) Eldest surviving daughter, (cl) Father. (r) Mother. (f) Eldest surviving brother. (g) Eldest surviving sister. (h) Eldest surviving half-brother. (i) Eldest surviving half-sister. (j) Paternal grandfather. ■’» (k) Paternal grandmother. (l) Maternal grandfather. (in) Maternal grandmother. (n) Eldest surviving nephew. (o) Eldest surviving niece. (p) Eldest*surviving uncle on father’s side. (o) Eldest surviving aunt on father’s side. (r) Eldest surviving undo on mother’s Side. (s) Eldest surviving aunt on mother’s tide. In the case of children the memorials will he issued to their guardians to hold in custody. The name to he inscribed upon the plaque is the name under which tho soldier attested and this will be strictly adhered to. Jinny members of theN.Z.E.F., for reasons best known to themselves, joined the army under assumed names. In their eases the plaques and scroll, which arc intended to commemorate the deceased’s services in the army, will he issued in the name under which, the soldier fought and died. The rolls have been forwarded to New Zealand and are at present being cheeked at Base Records, Wellington. Tho memorials are to he manufactured in the United Kingdom and it is anticipated that tho first shipment will come in two or three months’ time. It should not ho necessary to point out to the legal next-of-kin of all deceased soldiers the necessity of keeping Base Records advised of any change of address.