“LEST WE FORGET”

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XIX, Issue 6202, 26 April 1921, Page 2

“LEST WE FORGET”

ANZAC DAY AT K AUK ATI

MEMORIAL TO THE FALLEN.

WARM TRIBUTE PAID

The celebration of Anzac Day, the anniversary of the landing of New Zea-

landcrb and Australians on the- s&pites of

GalHpbli on April 25,1915, took place at Katikati yesterday afternoon. Tho main object of the gathering, which included hundreds of settlers, together

with their wives and families, and visitors from Taurangvi and Waihi, was the unveiling of the memorial to the memory of those gallant sons of tho settlement who made the supremo sacrifice

in the groat war. In passing it may bo said that for its popualtion, few if any districts gave a larger proportion of

fighting men to tne cause than did Kaitikati,as when the last man had) gone forth hardly a family, possessed of those' of age, but had. a vacant chair. Of the soldiers who went out ten failed to return. The visitors included Messrs Gluts. E. MacMilliau, O. Crabb, and Gilford (Tauranga), the Mayor (Mr. D. Donaldson), the Rev. Frank Tucker St. James’ Presbyterian Church), and Councillors J. J. Callaghan and A. Parry (Waihi). The Katikati Band and a large number of returned soldiers wore in attendance. The latter were drawn up on parade in an enclosure opposite the main entrance to the Katikati Domnin, where tho memorial' gates were erected.

THE SPEECHES. The ceremony was opened with a short and impressive prayer by itho Rev. F. Tucker, followed by a short address by Hie chairman, Mr Kenneth Morton, in the course ot which ho referred with 'feelings of emotion to those who hud fallen and with whom he had had an intimate personal acquaintance. They had assembled to commemoraitc the memory of tho soils of those who had given their lives for their King and eciMitry, and as a mark of their individual affection for those men. Mr MacMillan followed with an eloquent address on the loyalty of the sous of the Dominion, and the necessity of the present generation, to prepare for the future in order to guard against a recurrence of another world-wide war and its accompanying horrors. The Rev. Mr Tucker then delivered an impressive address, in which ho made a strong appeal to those present so far as it was possible, to emulate in times of peace tho great sacrifice made by those who had given their lives that they who remained at home might continue' to live in freedom under a just and libovty--I'oving empire. He would remind them that "self-sacrifice was needed in peace times, and such sacrifice should, in view of the supreme sacrifices mTtcle by those who had fought Ibr their country should be given liberally and nugnuTingTy.

THE UNVEILING. Mr MacMillan .then proceeded to the memorial gates and from each of the supporting pillars j>cr formed the unveiliug ceremony, which (was followed by the sounding of the "Last Post.'’ He then rallied upon Mrs Robert Hunter, as one o£ the oldest huijy settlers of, the ■settlement., to cut the ribbon attached to the gates. This being performed Mr MacMillan declared the gates opened. Mr Donaldson (Waihi), alitor expressing his pleasure at being privileged to be present on such an important occasion. said that in conversing with Lord Jeli.ieoo on the Governor-Gen-eral’s visit to Waihi tho> latter had said; that prior to passing through Katikati on Friday last ho had heard that there was to be an unveiling oil a memorial Hi fallen .soldiers of the district, .and had hoped that ho might have participated in the ceremony. Hi,s Excellency had, also expressed regret at not having stopped to greet the school children who had assembled ns lie was passing through the township. This bad been entirely due to the fac,t ..that His Excellency was not aware that any preparations bad been made, otherwise he [would certainly have endeavoured to meet the wishes of the Katikati folk. In concluding it he speaker touched on the remarkable loyalty of the Dominion generally of the great sacrifices made hy her soldier soup, and stressed the splendid response made' from the Katikati district.

Tile following are the names; of the fallen heroes on the tablet on one of the gate pillars Farrier Corporal Herbert Nelson, Corporal. Albert Dnnton, Privates H. Pritt, Sydney Norris, Robert Evans, Geo. Squlnobal, AVm. Busby. Geo. Stewart, Ottp Diggglmann, and Gilbert MeC(ung After the close of an impressive ceremony those in attendance were tho guests oj flic ladiep of Kaiiikati at afternoon tea, dispensed on the Domain grounds. The memorial erected by the residents of Katikati takes the fbrm of two concrete pillars erected on either side of tlie entrance to tho Domain. On one pillar is a marble tablet containing the names of the fallen, and on the other the i uiioiiiKemeut that the- memorial had been erected In grateful remembrance r,f the splendid services of the boys of the district who had answered the call to King and country, 1