BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL MEMORIAL SHRINE UNVEILED BY OLD “HEAD.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17759, 1 February 1926, Page 11

BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL MEMORIAL SHRINE UNVEILED BY OLD “HEAD.”

LARGE CROWD ATTENDS CEREMONY j AT NEW SCHOOL, j The unveiling of a war memorial shrine in the grounds of the new Boys High School, Straven Road, Riccarton, yesterday afternoon was a solemn and impressive ceremony*. It was performed "by Mr C. E. Bevan-Brown, a former head master of the school, in the presence of a large attendance boys, Old Boys, parents, and relatives of those who fell. The. shrine was erected by Old Boys, relatives and friends, and present pupils. Mr J. R. Cuningham, president of the committee, presided at the ceremony. Amongst those present were Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, formerly Minister of Defence. Lady Rhodes, Major-General R. Young, Mr J. K. Archer (Mayor of Christchurch) and Mrs Archer, Mr 11. D. Acland (chairman of the Board of Governors of Canterbury College), Mr G. J. Lancaster (head master of the school), and Messrs J. Guthrie and M. Guthrie, the architects of the shrine. Although rain threatened, only a little fell during the ceremony. Mr Cuningham said that the shrine, designed by Mr M. Guthrie, an Old Boy, *md carried out faithfully in every detail by Mr Sylvester, fittingly commemorated the memory of soldiers connected with the school who fell in the war. It might look somewhat bare at present, but when the extensive fields around the school were laid out and cypress trees were planted on each side, it would have a. different setting. Mr James Deans had given the trees, which would be planted dtiring the coming winter. They were the species of trees usually associated with memorials of that character in England and Europe. The committee was pleased that Mr Bevan-Brown would unveil the memorial, as nobody had taken a deeper interest than he in the boys who went to the front. Black and blue ribbons sent by him to Old Boys at the front during the war were still treasured by many who returned, and by friends and relatives of those who did not return. So it was fitting that the memorial should be unveiled by him. The shrine would be an inspiration to the present and future generations of Old Boys. As the years went by, its beauty and quiet dignity would increase, and it vouid continue to breathe out over the fields its message of sacrifice and of dutv nobly done. Concluding, Mr Cuningham quoted a passage from Pericles’s address, beginning : “So they gave their bodies to the commonwealth, and received each for his own memory praise that will never die.” “ It is my pride and pleasure to unveil this memorial,” Mr Bevan-Brown said when the Union Jack fell to one side of the panel. He waited in silence for a few seconds, and then explained that that flag was flown at the old Boys’ High School during the war, and was hoisted wheft news was received of the death of .an old boy at the front. At first, he said, it was proposed* to have as a memorial a library in the old school buildings. Afterwards, he had suggested a memorial arch in the new school. That idea was approved, but later it was decided to have a memorial shrine, as the old boys wished to have a non-utilitarian memorial, and they wished to bear the whole of the cost, which they could not do if the memorial was a library. After pointing oyt the symbolism in the shrine, Mr Bevan-Brown said that he remembered the rush of old boys to enlist in the Main Body, the impression that the war would be a short one, and that New Zealand wGuld be. too late to take part in it, and a meeting in Christchurch at which Colonel Macbean Stewart and Gordon Harper were amongst the speakers. The pieces of blue and black ribbon sent from the old school buildings had been worn in many climes on the land, on the sea, and in the air. Eight hundred old boys enlisted when they heard the' call of their country. He refused to think that those who fell had given their lives in vain. They died to make men free, and they called on present boys to help to preserve for this country the freedom they had died to secure.

Sir Heaton Rhodes said that he appreciated the request that he should take part in the ceremony as his last action as Minister of Defence. He already had laid down the reins of office, but he was very pleased to attend the ceremony. On the panel he saw many well-known names. Some of them were the names of men who had served with him in the South African War. They knew what war was, but they did not shirk their duty' in the greater and more disastrous war. General Allenby had referred to the heroes New Zealand could breed; and now Mr Bevan-Brown had unveiled a memorial to the heroes of the Christchurch Boys’ High School. British Generals and French Generals always spoke highly of the bravery of New Zealand soldiers. He was convinced that the SCO soldiers associated with the Boyds’ High School behaved like men both in the lines and behind the lines, proving that they' had been well brought up in the school, and that they were true to its traditions. The memorial would hand down to future generations the names of the fallen, and would inspire the same noble sacrifice as they had made.

Mr Lancaster said that the Old Boy's were rejoiced to see the school in the magnificent new buildings, with the great playing fields, but they treasured much more than buildings and playing fields the history* of their school. They treasured most of all the names of the 800 men who went to the war and the names of the 142 who did not return. The shrine was a unique one in a unique position. It faced the school, in whose classrooms pupils would learn Latin and mathematics and other things, and where their characters would be moulded, and it looked over the playing fields where they* would be taught to play the game. In the traditions of the school, the pupils had a Splendid heritage. The shrine would be a challenge as to the worth of their ideals of school life. It would be an inspiration in the search of ideals, an inspiration to self-sacrifice for school and country*.

The dedication prayer was offered by* the Rev F. Dunnage. The hymn, “Jesu, Lover of My Soul,” and the " School Song ” were sung. The ” Last Post,” sounded by the Boy’s’ High School Cadets' buglers, was followed by two minutes' silence, and then " The Reveille ” rang out.