The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 1946 WHAKATANE’S WAR RECORD

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 71, 8 May 1946, Page 4

The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 1946 WHAKATANE’S WAR RECORD

NOW that the war has ended it becomes imperative that some reputable organisation or group should shoulder the responsibility of compiling a complete list of the town ana district’s record of war service. Up to the time of the first ballots the BEACON maintained a list of volunteers from this area which amounted to over 300 names apart from those who joined the Air Force, the R.N.Z. Navy, or the auxiliary forces (Nursing, W.A.A.Cs, W.A.F.Fs, and Home Service). The completed list must be a formidable one which would present an undertaking of the utmost difficulty if it is postponed much longer. As a rule such lists are not thought of until such time as a memorial is under consideration, and when the Roll of Honour becomes essential. Today we should recognise the urgent need for collecting all existing data before too many of our returned men drift from our district and are lost sight of. The obvious choice falls upon the local branch of the R.S.A. but it is scarcely equitable that the whole of such a multifarious task should fall upon the shoulders of an organisation which already has its hands full to overflowing. The work is such that local bodies should not shrink from their duty of rendering practical assistance by way of grant and consultation. We have no doubt but that the response from this district will be shown, when returns are completed, to have been second to none. Broadly, it has been computed by the R.S.A. for the purpose of announcement during their recent campaign that the actual number of men from this district serving overseas exceeded 1700. This is a random figure, and cannot be taken with any degree of officiality. What the public will desire, and what will be essential as a living memorial will be a list showing the number of men serving in all capacities, in all spheres; the number of casualties; the number of deaths in action, and the list of battle honours by the Hauraki Regiment. These things are pressingly urgent and will become progressively more difficult as time goes on.