MEMORIAL SERVICE.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17472, 5 June 1922, Page 5

MEMORIAL SERVICE.

SOUTH AFRICAN WAR VETERANS Yesterday afternoon a service was held in Victoria square in memory of the men who gave their lives for the Empire in the South African war. The service was under the direction of the Rev. A. H. Norris, chaplain to the Forces. The veterans, about 80 strong, headed by the Ist Canterbury Regimental Band, under the direction of bandmaster \V. Fen ton, marched from King Edward Barracks to Victoria square. The Mayor said that things often faded away, but of the glorious deeds of our soldiers we might Say with Tennyson "When will their glory fade?" The service that day commemorated the dead of the wars besides that in South Africa. On a monument in Ladysmith was an inscription which appealed to him as a noble and inspiring one. "All re who pass by this monument, tell Kngland i hat we lie here content." The heroes of the past had left an imperishable name, and we must remember the duty that we owed to them. A beautiful wreath was placed at the base of the statue during the. playing of the selection "Fallen Heroes" by the band.

Colonel R. Young, O.C. Southern Command, complimented the veterans for their faithfulness to their fallen comrades through all the years. Tho muster that day was a fine one. Peace was probably the desire of war, hut we must be prepared to defend. However valuable the League of Nations might be in delaying hostilities.and softening the horrors of war, the ultimate resort to force still seemed a possibility. We were nil pacifists of a sort when we thought of the misery that was entniled. Let us keep our armour bright however, so that when the great call came, we might go over to the other side as worthy and true soldiers in the ranks of the deathless armv. During the service the hymns "Jesus Lives no Loncer Now," "The of God Goes Forth to War," and "Fight the Good Fight" were sung. The Rev. A. H. Norris said that the service was not one of lamentation nor of sorrow. It was one of grateful remembrance of those who had died for us He quoted the words of Ruskin I will appeal at once to the testimony or whom the war hns cost the dearest . those who can never more see sunrise, nor watch the climbing lifht erild the eastern clouds without think- ! ine what graves it hns snlded first, far down behind the earthline, who never more shall see the crocus bloom in snring without thinking what dust it ts that feeds the wild flowers of Balaclava. Ask their witness, and see if .they will not replv that it is well with them and with theirs, but thev would not have it otherwise, would not, if they micht receive back their cifts of love and life, nor take again the purple or their blood out of the cross on the breastnlate of England.' Mr Norris concluded by readmrr from the 44th chapter of the Book of Ecclesiastes, "I-et us now praise famous men »>

' An'inspiring service was concluded by the singing of the National Anthem.