DISTRICT ROLL OF HONOUR

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 39, 15 January 1946, Page 4

DISTRICT ROLL OF HONOUR

BEFORE it is too late we suggest that steps should be taken as part of the official endeavour of the current R.o.A. Queen Carnival Committee to compile an exact and correct record of the Whakatane districts war service figures and Roll of Honour. We understand that approximately 1700 left this district to serve in the Armed Forces, at home and overseas. This figure however., does not include those who ioined up with the Air Force or the Navy, neither does it, we undestand include the members of the Nursing Service, or the Women’s Auxiliaries to the three fighting arms. Peac3. is not six months old as yet, and the time is opportune for careful investigation and compilation of our districts war effort. We suggest that arising from the Queen Carnival, a fully informative list of all who joined the colours be drawn up showing those who served at home, those who served overseas in any of the three services, those who were decorated, those who sustained wounds and finally those for whom the ‘silent toast’ is honoured at all .Returned Soldiers gatherings. If it is left until a future date, the task will be more and more diffcult owing to the widening links* between those who will be able to furnish the requued information. Public interest is now focussed upon the R.S.A., and the collation of sucuh a list would be com paratively easy and would lend itself as a very useful am lasting tribute to the present effort now being made to establish a Memorial Fund..