AMIENS MEMORIAL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16889, 9 November 1920, Page 3

AMIENS MEMORIAL.

GRAVES IN CATHEDRAL. AN INSPIRING CEREMONY. By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. PARIS, Nov. 8. There was a touching and pathetic ceremony at Amiens, and future Australian pilgrims will find in the Cathedral choir a pious monument illustrating a battlefield grave, which was consecrated to-day. It is a white marble tablet at the entrance, and to-day it was decratcd with sprigs of wattle and wreaths, with many touching inscriptions written by women’s hands. Marshal Foch_ presided at the ceremony, accompanied by General Sackville West, military attache at Paris. Ho was received at the station by General Phillipot, representing the President, and M. Morin, Prefect of the Somme, representing the Premier. Australian representatives, and also members of the Amiens Municipality, and a vast crowd at the station, gave an ovation to Marshal. Foch, who proceeded through a troop-lined street to the hotel Durham, where a reception was held.

Monsignor Delaville, Bishop of Amiens, received Marshal Foch at the entrance to the Cathedral. As an imposing procession made its way to its places he delivered a patriotic address, and his ringing voice was heard in every part of the building. He described in language which strongly moved the vast congregation the decisive operations in which the Australians prominently and successfully participated, their prowess at Villers Bretonnenx, and elsewhere in the vicinity, and their tremendous sacrifices as shown by the thousands of graves strewn over the Somme plains. He said the memory of the Australian troops would never die in the land they watered with their blood. Though they cams from a country far away, they were now re-united with their dead French comrades in paradise, where there were no frontiers. The peoples also of France and Australia would be united for evermore -through that sacrifice.. Citizens of Amiens would guard the memory of tho Australian dead who had fallen on the soil of France, and tho French nation, which was one great family, when it gathered round its altars would invoke the image of those valiant Australian soldiers who had fallen with the sons of France in defence of liberty, humanity and civilisation. Ho concluded with an oliquent tribute to Marshal Foch.

Two empty graves had been built with sods of turf side by side before the steps lending to the altar, and the graves were flanked by bayoneted rifles stacked in military fashioh on either side. A cross on one grave was surmounted by an Australian steel helmet, and below it was the inscription, in one word, “Australia.” The cross on the other grave bore a French hchnct, and also the French tricolour and cockade. Both graves were covered with fresh flowers of roses and carnations. A card on an Australian wreath, in a woman’s handwriting, read: “In ever loving memory of all our dear Australians who so nohly made the sacrifice. From an Australian.” At card on the French grave, in the same handwriting, read; “Deepest sympathy with the French who nobly made the sacrifice.’’

At the close of the Bishop’s address, a procession was formed of Australian soldiers, who lined the flower-wreathed pillars. The Bishop unveiled the tablet, on which is an inscription, both in French and English. All eyes were now fixed on the simple white tablet decorated with palms, and when Marshal Foch unveiled it there were a few minutes of silence. Then the “Last Post” in the bugles’ staccato blasts rang through the Cathedral, accentuating the pathos and emotion shown in the faces of the congregation, which included many British and Australian soldiers working on the war graves on the Somme.

At a subsequent luncheon, over which Mr. Andrew Fisher presided, Marshal Foch expressed profound gratitude to the Australian troops., In Australia’s resources- of men and material, the French command always found strength. The Australians, by their wonderful attack on Fillers Bretonneux. and their valour afterwards, made the task of the high command very easy. General West proposed “The Spirit of France,” paying an eloquent tribute to the French troops, and also to the work of the women and children in -wartime. All the French guests wore small Australian flags in their buttonholes. The Cathedral ceremonies created a most profound impression of sincerity, and the spectacle of small French children laying fresh flowers and green turf on the Australian grave, and kneeling and praying beside it was inexpressibly touching. Many people were affected to tears. Among those welcoming Marsha] Foch wore General Wyatt, representing the King, Mr. Andrew Fisher (the High Commissioner for Australia), Colonel De Satge (representing the Colonial Office), Lords Middleton and Riddell, General .Macdonagh, and the Agents-Genoral. Mr. Fisher gave a reception at the Hotel du Rhin.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.