Wellington War Memorial Carillon

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume XV, Issue 3, 1 July 1926, Page 125

Wellington War Memorial Carillon

NEW ZEALAND NURSES DONATE BELL.

To perpetuate the memory of the New Zealand Nurses who made the supreme sacrifice m the Great War, steps were taken m Wellington on May 19th to organise subscriptions among nurses for the purpose of donating a bell to the Memorial Carillon. The convener of the meeting was Miss Bicknell, A.R.R.C., Director of Nursing and Matron-in-Chief N.Z. A.N.S. The idea as outlined by Miss Bicknell met with ready response, and those present formed themselves into a Committee, to carry the suggestion into practical effect. Miss Bicknell was appointed Chairman ; Hon. Treasurer, Miss Brandon, A.R.R.C. ; Hon. Secretary, Mrs. H. J. Marshall; Committee, Misses Khon, Stott, Ingles, Newman, Lampp, Mcßae, Todd, V. McLean, Whitehorn, Lea, MacKenzie, Henley, Fisher, McGibbon, Gould, Moore, Hare. Miss Bicknell recalled the occurrence m 1915 when the Marquette was torpedoed, and of 30 nurses on board ten were drowned; five other members had died on active service, also several V.A.D.'s. While it was recognised that the War Memorial Carillon was purely a Wellington matter, it was nevertheless felt, she said, that many nurses throughout New Zealand, who at some time or other were associated with those whose memory only remained, should have the opportunity to contribute if they so desired. It was decided by the meeting that the bell be donated by nurses only, and that no contributions be accepted from other people. It was decided to send letters to General Hospitals, St. Helen's Hospitals, and Private Hospitals asking that subscription lists be started, also to Secretaries of Trained Nurses' Associations asking that the matter be placed before their respective branches.

The Committee decided to ask the Carillon Society, to set aside a £30 bell for the present, and donate a larger one if possible. The response by the nurses from various parts of New Zealand was so prompt and generous, that by June 17 (less than a month) the Hon. Treasurer (Miss Brandon) handed over £130, which was forwarded to the Hon. Secretary of the Carillon Society with the Committee's request that the £108 bell be set aside m place of the £30 bell previously applied for, and that the balance of the money go towards the Campanile Fund. All the bells of the Carillon are to be named (this is the case m all Carillons m Great Britain and Europe), i.e., "Big Ben," "Old Harry," "Digger," etc., etc. At a meeting held on June 25th the Committee decided to leave the naming of the Nurses' bell for a later date, and ask nurses to send m suggestions to the Hon. Secretary. Names already suggested are "Marquette," "Nightingale," "Kai-tiaki Turoro" (one who looks after the sick). On the bell will be engraved, at the top, the N.Z. A.N.S. Badge ; 2nd, name of bell ; 3rd, to whom dedicated and by whom. On the brass tablet m the Memorial Sanctuary will be inscribed the names of those New Zealand nurses and V.A.D.'s who died on active service. At the top of the tablet will be engraved the N.Z. A.N.S. badge. Below the following: — "They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn; At the going down of the sun, and In the morning — We will remember them." The nurses of the Wellington Hospital responded most generously to the Bell Fund, contributing £35. In speaking of bells given m memory of members of different regiments and N.Z.A.N.S., the "Evening Post" says:—

"These bells will be 'Unit-bells,' and being almost equivalent to 'battle honours' will represent the most sacred tribute that can be paid to their memory. The nurses were among the first to lead the way, and have once more set an example by their magnificent response." Various bells of the Carillon will be tolled on certain occasions, and the Nurses' Bell will be tolled on October 23rd, the date on which the "Marquette" was torpedoed. Carillon Probably Embodied m National Memorial. It is generally understood that there is a strong movement afoot for the erection of the National Memorial, National Art Gallery, Dominion Museum,

and Carillon as part of National Memorial on Mt. Cook site. l\' the proposal materialises a very noble group of buildings will be erected, costing approximately £310,000. A definite anonuncement is expected shortly. On account of this the opportunity for nurses to subscribe is still open, to meet the cost of placing the Tablet m the Memorial Sanctuary. Please send subscriptions to Miss Brandon, A.R.R.C., 166 Willis Street, Wellington, and suggestions for name of bell, to Mrs. Marshall, Hatton Street, Karori, Wellington. It has now been decided definitely that the £130 bell will be allocated to the Nurses.