CANADA’S DEAD.

Wairarapa Age, 28 July 1936, Page 5

CANADA’S DEAD.

KING UNVEILS MEMORIAL ON VIMY RIDGE. MEMORIES THAT OUTLIVE THE SCARS OF WAR. FRENCH PRESIDENT & PEOPLE THANKED. LONDON, July 26. The King motored from Fort Belvedere and arrived at Portsmouth Dockyard at 1.30 a.m. Smoking a pipe, he smilingly waved to a small eheering crowd and embarked on the Admiralty yacht Enchantress, which was escorted by two destroyers. At 11 a.m. he landed at Calais, where a guard of honour was provided by a whole battalion of the 110th. French Infantry. The King, wearing a grey morning coat and all his war medals, signed a golden book of distinguished visitors, and then entrained for Vimy Ridge, where since daybreak thousands of Canadian pilgrims had been steadily arriving. Upon arriving at Vimy Ridge the BTing was given an enthusiastic welcome. He walked among the pilgrims and conversed with many of them. One was a mother of 11 soldiers, of whom five were killed and three wounded. She wore 19 medals. Another was a coloured hero from Toronto, who lost both legs and both arms.

When President Lebrun arrived the King greeted him warmly, and both mounted a dais, in front of which stood thousands of Canadian ex-service men, behind whom were 100,000 French ex-servicemen with colours. Guns thundered a salute and two squadrons of French aeroplanes flew over. Chnaiflian chaplains then conducted • 'service, which was followed by several Speeches from politicians, including the Canadian Prime Minister, Mr. Mackenzie King, speaking by wireless from Ottawa. HIS MAJESTY’S SPEECH. Speaking in French, his Majesty, addressing President Lebrun, said: “I Um very grateful to you for coming to join in the ceremony. Your presence will deeply touch the people of Canada. For my own part I am glad of the opportunity of expressing from the bottom of my heart my thanks to the French people and the gratitude of the Canadian people for the honour you have done those whose sacrifices are inscribed on this monument, and for the welcome yon have accorded their parents and friends, who crossed the ocean to be present at this inauguration.”

Then, speaking in English, the King made an eloquent speech in the course of which be said: “This glorious monument crowning the hill of Vimy is now and for all time part of Canada. Though the mortal remains of Canada’s ■one lie far from home, yet here in Uncient Artois their immortal memory is hallowed upon soil that la as surely Canada’s as an acre within bar nine provinces. It is the gift of France to Canada.

“It is one of the consolations which time brings that deeds of valour done on the battlefields long survive the Euarrels which drove the opposing oets to conflict. Already the sears of war have well nigh vanished from the fair landscape spread beneath us. Around us to-day there is peace and rebuilding hope. So, in dedicating thdA memorial to our fallen comrades, ■ur thoughts turn rather to the splen dour of their sacrifice and the consecration of our love for them than to ithe cannonade which beat upon this gidge a score of years ago. In a spirit Of thankfulness for their example, of reverence for their devotion, and of rride in their comradeship, I unveil his memorial to Canada’s dead.” The King then unveiled the memorial and buglers sounded the "Last Fost.” Then there were two minutes’ Silence, followed by the Reveille, and a speech by President Lebrun, thanking (the King and praising the Canadians. In conclusion massed bands played Land of Hope and Glory.” “The Marseillaise,” and “God Save the King.”

OUR KING. HIS MAJESTY AS MONARCH OF DOMINION. (Received Monday, 9.5 p.m.) LONDON, July 27. The “Daily Mail” emphasises that the King has for the first time acted as King of a Dominion in a foreign country. It was as King of Canada, not King of England, that he was greeted by the Canadian Minister of Justice (the Hon. E. Lapointe) who was the Minister in attendance. When lie walked among the thousands of pilgrims, the King was accompanied only by Canadian Government members and officials. The Canadian Ministers and elergy referred to him as our King, while he repeatedly, in his address, used the word “we,” meaning the King of Canada and his people. The “Daity Mail” adds that no more solemn occasion could have distinguished this rededication of Empire z unity. The most touching episode was when the King recalled meeting in Toronto Curley Christian, a Jamaican who served with the Canadian Army. He was blinded and without feet and hands when he was dug out after a day’s burial at V«ny Ridge. He is believed to be the only soldier living suffering such disabilities. The King shook the arm of Christian, who pleaded that his Majesty should be introduced to twenty blinded soldiers. The King consented and Christian carried out the presentation, lifting up each man’s hand with the stump of his right arm to enable the King to shake hands.