POPPIES FROM THE SOMME.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19849, 19 January 1920, Page 5

POPPIES FROM THE SOMME.

FRENCH SCHOOL CHILDREN’S TRIBUTE.

DOMINION AV?ftECIATON.

Recently a paragraph appeared in the ‘ btar ’ stating that Mr James Young, curator of the Botanic Gardens had received a packet of poppy seed<g which had been gathered in the Somme Vadey by the French school children of V ihers-Bretonneux. The package had been forwarded by Miss Fttic 1. Hunt, with the request from the thoughtful If reach children that some of the original seed, and later the seed from the first crop, should bo distributcu to the relatives of the Dominion soldiers who had fallen in the Somme battles. iho announcement of tho gift has oeu g,ven a widespread prominence, and lor several days past, Air Young has been inundated with fetters from all parts of the Dominion, making application for some of the seeds. ~Tno writers all express a deep sense of gratitude to the French children in '’the tribute they have paid to tho fallen soldiers of New Zealand and the request 'f invariably, made that their thanks shall be conveyed to the youthful donors. The following extracts from a lew letters will show the universal appreciation of the kindly little act of the children of Villen-Brctouneus:

‘ Hastings, Hawke’s Bay.—l see you have received some poppy seeds from the iSomme Valley. Mav'l ask a few seeds from you. I lost' a Main Body boy at Hers, so you would indeed do a kind action if you can let me have a few lor his mother.”

'• Wellington.—Having read about the poppies .you have trout the Somme, I am writing to ask tor a few seeds straight away. Aiy husband fell on the Somme on September 15, 1916, and I can assure you that I would treasure anything very dearly that I could get from there. He was a lieutenant in the Auckland Infantry, and was a Alain Body man.”

“Wellington.—ln the Wellington “ Post my wife and 1 read that you had received some poppy seeds which were gathered in the Sorntpe A’alley by the school children of \ illers-Bretou-nenx. . . . My wife and 1 sincerely

thank the children for their kind sympathy. One of our sons was killed in action on the Somme, and we would so greatly.treasure the poppy seed. Our second son (we had but two) was spared to return to us. He was witn his brother when the latter was killed.”

" Pnraparaumu.—l see that by applying to you a little of the poppy seeds gathered in the Somme Valley could be obtained. I would so much like to have just a pinch, as my dear sou fought in the first Somme battle in Franco, and was killed in the Battle of Messines."

“ Department of Agriculture, Industries and Commerce. Wellington.—With reference to the paragraph which appeared in the ‘ Evening Post ’ the other night stating that you were in receipt of a parcel of poppy seed from the. Somme battlefields, and that yon had u limited amount of seed to spare, I should he glad if you would let me have a few. as 1 lost some very good friends on that mournful field.”

“ Omaln; Road, Hastings.—Can you kindly spare me a few poppy seeds from the Somme? My son was killed there on September 16. 1916. When I rear the poppies I will distribute the seed to parents around here whose sons fell in the Somme fight.” “ Karori. Wellington,—l would be very grateful if you would send me some of the poppy seeds gathered in the SomraeValley. 1 see that you have a few to give to deceased soldiers’ relatives. 1 lost a brother, and also a friend there.”

“ Day's Bay, "Wellington.—l read that you have some poppy seeds that wore gathered by the children of Millers Brettomieux, on the battlefields of the Somme, and that you will send some to tiie friends of th'oso who fell there. 1 had two sons who took part in the first Somme advance. The eldest was killed on September Id, HMG, and the younger one was wounded on the same day. The elder of the two was a sergeant in the 6th Howitzer Battery, and was buried by his comrades near the little town, of Flers. Who knows, perhaps, some of (he seeds were picked from plants growing on his grave! it would he nice to be able to think so and to have some of the seeds, the originals if yon have them to spare, it not some of the. second generation.” “ Wesley College, Three Kings, Auckland.—i saw oy tne ‘ .New z/cakuul Herald' you had some poppy scocis for tlio rclalives oi soldiers wined in the Somme battle. Could you please send a lew here as by brother was killed between tiers auo Longueval m futo. Ho joined in England us he was too young t-o join in .New Zealand.”

■‘Hamilton, Waikato, Auckland.--Having seen m the paper that you have poppy seeds Irom the Somme battlefield lor uisuibution among relatives ot deceased soldiers 1 wish to beg lor a few. My son fell there in vTelober, T-U6, aged twenty-one, and if 1 could have a icw ot the original seed I should be so thankful. It nut will you remember urn when the others are reach. 'I hey will be very precious to us.”

"Maikukn.—My sot. died April 7 IMS, at -Bally Mallet, and is buried fit Etaples. Frobaidy you would think ot me, regarding poppy seeds. I should wi much like some but all the same probably plants later on would bo better. Fleas.;- .save some for a sorrow am mother.” °

” Geraldine.---I saw by the ‘ Lvttelton Jirnes’ you had received a packsoc v poppy seeds gathered in the Somme 'alley My aear son was killed on September sti, 1016, on the battlefields of the Somme. On that account J would be very thankful to you if vu „ could let me have one of tw 0 <eech t was very kind of Miss Bout to se im them.

‘'On bchnlf of my brother, ivh o has lost a son m the Somme battle won id >ou .ct him bare a few poppy , eeds sou and look alter f”

'■ llemncra, Auckland.— It was vor. pleasing to read your notice, ■ Hatticnoia -ijoinciuo,’ m Friday’s • licraiu I non In liko you to include mu wiie’n * n ™" -’‘IAS iulie a. Hunt and school children ot tillers brotUmneux, •'■ere hanks to those wi.oso thoughts a Hi kind sympathy arc with us and Sidrorh 1 So, r‘‘' IWa ‘ V - J ««re tl.o SS/rr V s , all - 1 bo P° you will hint onougn seeds to spare me a little shan 1 ,im f 0 !lllx ious to get the address of there was someone looking after m\L f 6 *«• «a i «.u m -orgu them for their kindness \i,. " Isi?, ’SW in ac , tilra &*•»■«£ I ■ . , I( \ ] 1 tb o fc'Jinmn battle. a„ r ] buried with fifteen other X.Z R u sol *"» Sri.* T,,,„.N sfc iliif iifirlli.[), Ivtli,. Win,(l, Kicrs rilhuf -Mr Young Ims been busy complving "Util ibt- applications for seed. ‘ n,c planting ol the seed that was left over commenced 10-day in a special plot in the Rota me Cardens. There is, however, some of the original seed for dis.

tribution. A different sort of communication that the Domain Curator received was an intimation that byplanting poppies in the gardens he was sowing a noxious weed! The reply given was that a great number of plants already cultivated are noxious weeds, and that in the present instance there was another view to be taken.