TRAFALGAR DAY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12776, 21 October 1919, Page 7

TRAFALGAR DAY.

LAURELS FOR NAVAL

HEROES.

FLORAL OFFERINGS IN SQUARE.

Laurels and wreaths were laid in great profusion before tho Anglican Cathedral to-day in memory of Trafalgar Day. It. is one hundred and fourteen years since the great naval engagement in which Nelson fell, but it has truly been said that "Those bright laurels ne’er shall fade with years, Whos<> leaves aro watered by a nation's tears."

Jelclom have more floral offerings been brought in memory of Trafalgar Day, but. among them aro many offered in memory of tho fallen soldiers and sailors of the Great War.- On the outer door of the Cathedral hangs a beautiful floral representation of the White Ensign, tho flag which was adopted permanently, after the Battle of Trafnlgar, as the ensign of the Royal Navy. J ho offering bears the card of the president of the Navy League (Mr A. Boyle) and Mrs Boyle. The predominant blue of tho Union Jack is supplied |>\ cinerarias, the Cross of Bt Georgo by red geraniums, and tho white ground bv many exquisite massed blooms. Below the White Ensign is a beautit from the Women’s Section ot the Navy League " to tho immortal memory of those brave men who esteemed it an honour to go to their death at Zeebrugge, 23rd April, 1918.” Laurel wreaths have been deposited to the memory not only of the British dead at Trafalgar, but to tho French and Spanish sailors who fell. On the shield below the tricolour of France is the inscription “A la memoiro des f r ‘i?, ca ls 9 11 ’ son fc tombe glo uric use merit le Mst Octobre. 180o." The British wreath has the simple inscription, “ In memory of the British who fell gloriously on the 21st October, ISOo." Tim Spanish shield has the inscription, “ En raomorio de los Espnniolcs que muriero glonosameuto. 21st Octubro 180o.” '1 he Mayor ond Councillors of Christchurch have given a great wreath “to the glorious dead," and the Domains Board has given “a tribute to the memory of England’s greatest naval ,ort ?- Tlie wreath is most beautifully worked in red, white and blue with creamers to match. The Navy Lea-me has a, big wreath to tho officers and men who fell in the Groat War, and ?;, sl ? ni , r tribute has been sent bv the Christchurch Ladies' Guild of the British and Foreign Sailors’ Society. Tho Navy League nls:o has a huge "wreath in memory of tho bravo allies who gave 1 om r i«% tlle I>€nc;flt of humanity, 1914-18. The secretary of tho League has sent a floral anchor to the officers and men of the Good Hope and Monmouth, who went down off Coronel. there aro three sheafs of arum lilies one trom the East Christchurch infants one from Nora K. Foster "in memory ot the officers and men of BUMS Blanche, killed at the Battle of Jutioud, and one from Miss B. L. M’Beth. Other floral tokens have been sent bv the Women’s National Reserve, Roval lj.Be having Society, Harewood School blue and white lilac), Normal School (white, relieved with yellow roses), Mrs Joseph Palmer, Canterbury Rugbv Union, Ranginiru School (blue hyacinth rV-- S -, * av - v 5 and 6 ot Last Christchurch School (beautiful tuhpswith whlto Geraniums and ™ r +l blo c ms) ii ßromley School (striking V™ th of yellow and purple pansies!, fb?s b ° ys St brow's College ■tm f ochor draped with blue Hhrh n « 1 W i° S / t • District • k 1 School (pink rhododendrons with ir o:n ? er: '')’ Commercial Travellers’ and Warehousemen’s Association: DonT. n ppy Scouts; _ Christchurch •“> /J 1 memory of fallen comi.vCies ) Canterbury ’Women’s Club (simple laurel wreath.) Hil 1 ! 10 £ b l lflr f n °f the Lyttelton District High School and the West Lyttelton School assembled tins morning in tho Playgrounds in order to salute the flag m honour of Trafalgar Dav the Lyttelton District High School Capram J. A. H Marciol addressed the pupils, after which Mr J. Carson (secretary of the School Committee) annomiced that the day would be considered a school holiday.