WAR GRAVES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 117, 20 May 1932, Page 10

WAR GRAVES

MR A. MILDENHALL RETURNING TO DOMINION. LONDON, April 7. After twelve years' continuous service with the Imperial War Graves Commission, Mr Arthur Mildenhall, tno only New Zealander on the Commission outside England, has been retired and is returning to the Dominion. ' Mr Mildenhall served nn Gallipoli during the icampaign, and received a shrapnel wound, his skull being fractured. After recovery, he continued service with the New Zealanders in Franco and was hit on the head again by a piece of shrapnel, which is still lodged in the skull. In 1919 ho joined the War Graves Commission, and was sent to Gallipoli, where he was chief clerk of works, being responsible for all the constructional work of the cemeteries. He also superintended the erection of the New Zea’and memorial on Chunuk Bair. The work being completed on the Peninsula, he cam c to France in 1924, and has been there ever since, acting in the same capacity as clerk of works. For some years his duties have taken him to every part of the southern half of France, where English graves are to be found almost in every civil cemetery. Constructional work is now completed throughout- France. There are onlv a few isolated headstones to be erected. Maintenance work, however, will go on, for even the solid stone and concrete work of tho British cemeteries require constant attention, Mr Mildenhall regrets having to giv« up the work, for he feels that .New Zealand should have a representative in France. Economy is given as lhe reason for his discharge, and as Now Zealand is represented nt the head office in London by or»3 officer it is maintained that the Dominion’" quota (based on tho contributions to the funds) is adequately filled. One remembers, however, that Australia, besides having representation in France, has three representatives in tho Near East, their salaries being £l2OO, £BOO. and £6OO respectively, with entertainment allowance. Tho Commonwealth is certainly well served in the field.

In spite of all Sir Thomas Wilford (as one of the War Graves Commissioners) has been able to do—and ho lias brought his influence to bear in several directions—ho has not been able to retain a New Zealand officer on the Commission for work outside England. Mr and Mrs Mildenhall are sailing by tho Jervis Bay on April 13, and they will join the Mamma at Sydney on May 27. Mrs Mildenhall, who is the daughter of the late Canon Redfern, of Denbigh, Wales, is not unknown to New Zealanders. For several years she was working with th 0 St. Barnabas Hostels ir. France and had the privilege cf conducting many New Zealand visitors over the cemetery area. When he arrives in the Dominion Mr Mildenhall should have nn interesting story to toll tho groat work of the Imperial War Graves CommiS’ sion during tho past twelve years. '