SOLDIERS’ GRAVES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16336, 27 January 1921, Page 7

SOLDIERS’ GRAVES.

PLANS FOR THEIR CARE. Soldiers’ graves will be under tne care <?f the New* Zealand Government lor all time, states a communication, received from the N.Z.E.F. War Graves Committee by the Citizens’ Defence Corps. Christchurch. In each military cemetery there will bo erected the memorials known ns tho !i Cross of Sacrifice ” and the “ Altar of Duty.” A permanent headstone bearing a cross, the New Zealand emblem (the ternloaf), and the letters f ‘ N.Z.E.F.,” in addition to the regimental number, iank, name, unit and date of death of the soldier, will be erected over each* grave, and permanent work in accordance with local conditions will be carried out in each case. A soldier’s grave is considered to Ik> that of a soldier who died on service or a soldier who died within twelve months of discharge, if his death was attributable to active service condition*. Owing to the large number of headstones required it will lie some considerable time, probably two to throe yearn, before the work is completed. In. view of this the letter states that the committee has decided to place over all unmarked graves small wooden crosses, pending the erection of permanent headstones- Temporary’ crosses have been erected at the soldiers’ memorial cemetery at Tvarori (Wellington), at the four large cemeteries in Auckland, and nr. Cambridge, Hamilton. To Aroha and Rotorua. The committee hope to have similar crosses placed over the graves in the South Island at an early date.