WANGAEHU’S WAR DEAD HONOURED; UNVEILING OF MEMORIAL TABLETS

Wanganui Chronicle, 31 May 1948, Page 4

WANGAEHU’S WAR DEAD HONOURED; UNVEILING OF MEMORIAL TABLETS

(0.C.) Wangaehu, May 30. Two world war memorial tablets commemorating men from the Wangaehu district who died in the wars of 1914-18 and 1939-45 were unveiled in tlie Wangaehu Hall last night before a large gathering, including representatives of the Presbyterian, Anglican and Catholic Churches, the returned Services’ Association and the Maori Race. The visitors were welcomed by the chairman of the Memorial Committee, Mr. L. A. Mackintosh. After the dedication ceremony, he accepted responsibility for the safe keeping of the memorial tablets on behalf of the Wangaehu Hail Committee.

Of handsome design, the two Rolls of Honour are of dark oak, lettered in gold, the names occupying three panels on each tablet. Underneath are hung a modern steel bayonet and an ancient Maori spear. Of particular interest, is a silver-mounted staff which in 1888 had been sent by Queen Victoria to the Ngatiapa (Whangaehu) tribe for their loyalty to the Throne during the Maori wars. Mr. Mackintosh expressed pleasure at the large attendance and also thanked his committee of five members for their untiring efforts. Only through their energy and interest had the memorial become a concrete fact. In particular, Mr. Mackintosh thanked Mr. C. Larkins who had carried out the formidable task of supplying the names for the 1914-18 tablet. "It is an honour to be invited to unveil these memorial tablets,” said Mr. E. B. Gordon, M.P. for Rangitikei, who added that in times of crisis men and women from the Wangaehu district had answered the call of the Empire and had achieved a very proud record in the course of two world wars.

The Maori Battalion had won fame which needed no explanation. In all branches of the service, the Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force and the Merchant Navy, men of the Wangaehu district had been prominent. "There were some who fell by the way and those who did not return to their homeland and paid the Supreme Sacrifice that our way of life, with its democratic freedom might be retained," said Mr. Gordon. ‘We who are left have a duty to perform in seeing that their sacrifice was not in vain." Representing the Maori race, Mr. Hau Hiroti said that on this solemn occasion Maori and pakeha were meeting together as New Zealanders to do honour to the sons of both races who left their shores in defence of the Empire. The spirit of the old Maori warriors which had lain dormant down the years was awakened at the bugle call "To Arms" and in two world wars the Maori soldier, face to face with the enemy, had not met his superior.

Mr. Hiroti related the story of a Wangaehu Maori youth who was taken prisoner while attempting to capture a machine-gun post witli the aid of a companion. He escaped and was recaptured three times, but finally a fourth attempt was successful and he rejoined his unit after living on grass for two weeks and suffering from a broken arm as a result of falling over a precipice. Deeds such as this proved the heroism and endurance of the Maori Battalion. The tablets, each covered by a Union Jack, were unveiled by Mrs. C. Larkins and Mr. E. B. Gordon, while the gathering stood and Mr. Hiroti recited the lines of "We Will Remember Them."

The Rev. T. Speer said that when settlers of the district attended meetings and gatherings in the hall the memorial tablets would provide a constant reminder of the debt to those men who had helped to make these shores safe.

“The appeal to our loyalty, faith and devotion cannot be ignored,” Mr. Speer added. "The Christian way of life will endure through the vision of those who fought and died for an ideal. Can we do less than they? Let us remember them.”

After the gathering had sung the hymn, “Lest We Forget,” Mr. E. V. Laws, representing the Wanganui branch of the Returned Services' Association, spoke briefly of the “mute tribute the memorials paid to valiant comrades."

Following a dedication prayer by the Rev. E. Bergin, Mr. C. Larkins requested the Hall Committee to accept the responsibility for the safe-keeping, of the memorial tablets. While the* committe stood, Mr. Mackintosh, as convener, accepted the charge of a sacred trust.

Th.? hymn, “Abide With Me" concluded an impressive ceremony, other hymns sung including “O God, Our Help in Ages Past.” A solo, "Just For Today," was sung by Mr. Flyger (Fordell) and during the ceremony Mr. Bergin read a passage from th.' New Testament.