FILM OF WAR GRAVES COMMISSION’S WORK TO BE SCREENED IN CITY

Wanganui Chronicle, 21 November 1950, Page 4

FILM OF WAR GRAVES COMMISSION’S WORK TO BE SCREENED IN CITY

Various aspects of the work of the Imperial War Graves Commission will be shown in a film to be screened by Brigadier F. Higginson, C.M.G., secre. tary to the commission, in the City Conner! Chambers on Friday night. As a preliminary to the screening, Brigadier Higginson will address a public meeting. Brigadier Higginson arrives at Auckland today in the course of a brief Dominion tour. He is due at Wanganui on Friday, and before leaving on Saturday morning will inspect the Soldiers’ Lawn Cemetery at Aramoho. Accompanying him will be representatives of the Wanganui Returned Services’ Association, the City Council and Ministry of Works. All members of the public are invited to attend the film screening in Wanganui on Friday night, to see for themselves the work that is being carried on in soldiers’ cemeteries overseas and the great care that is taken of the graves of those gallant men who died in the cause of freedom. The film, which is in colour, is designed to give the public of New Zealand a short pictorial record of the work performed by the Imperial War Graves Commission on their behalf. It is a simple documentary record designed to show the beauty of the cemeteries and memorials of the 1914-18 war In France, Belgium and other countries. Pictures include such famous memorials and cemeteries as the Villers, Bretonneux Memorial and cemetery, Buttes Cemetery, Polygon Wood, Tobruk, Cassino and Arnhem cemeteries.

The basic principles which have guided the Commission are well known. Equality of treatment is the most important. A simple headstone identical in shape, size and design marks the grave of the general and of the private soldier, and this commemorates equality of sacrifice, in . that each man gave the greatest gift in his power. The pictures in the film are representative of the Commission’s work as a whole. Wherever they may lie these last resting places of the dead of the whole Commonwealth will be tended with equal devotion. It is feit that this visit of Brigadier Higginson will be of real value to the people of New Zealand and it is expected that the people of Wanganui will take advantage of his visit by attending the address and the showing of the film.