Modern Lawn Cemetery For Servicemen Opened

Chronicle (Levin), 3 November 1949, Page 4

Modern Lawn Cemetery For Servicemen Opened

^ Four years of negotiation between the Levin R.S.A. and the Internal Affairs Department and Ministry of Works has resulted in the establishment in Levin of a servicemen's cemetery. Adjacent to the borough cemetery, it was recently handed over to the Levin R.S.A. by the Internal Affairs Deparlment. The first burial took place this week. Planned along the most modern lines, the new cemetery will be in lawn with small bronze plaques marking each grave. It will be the only one of its type in this district and one of few in New • Zealand. First Conceived Idea. The suggestion first came from Mr. W. Meddings, for many years secretary of the Levin R.S.A., at an executive meeting in February, 1944. A keen advocate for a separate identity for servicemen's graves, Mr. Meddings worked very hard on the project and is to be congratulated on his efforts. The Levin Borough Council was approached and it agreed to set aside an area of land, 180 feet by 80 feet, for use by the association. September, 1944, saw an. application go forward to the Internal Affairs Department for the approval of a scheme and the development of the cemetery. The Internal Affairs Department conveyed its agreement in June, 1945, an'd referred to the Ministry of Works the task of laying dovm the Jland in lawn, surveying the plots and erecting the necessary fences and planting hedges. The department was unable to put this work in hand immediately and this meant frequent correspondence between it and the R.S.A. Recently, however, this work was complete'd and the cemetery was formally handed over to the R.S.A. on Seotember 1. Some of the work still remains to be completed. A shortage of bricks prevented the erection of a front fence aecording to plan, but it is now intended to go ahead with this at a suitable juncture using other material if bricks are , still unprocurabie. A memorial * gate is to be erected. This has actually been ordered and delivery is awaited. Further beautification of the groun'ds is to be carried out by the planting of suitable trees and shrubs. Those eligible for burial in the cemetery are South African War veterans and First World War veterans, including women of the New Zealand, British and Allied forces who served overseas, and also those of the New Zealand forces *who were attested for overseas service but did not actually go. Also included are Second World War servicemen and women of the aboVe forces an.d all those who served in the New Zealand forces on home service between September 3, 1939, and • December

t t 31, 1947. Plots Supplied Free. ; Plots are supplied free of charge, ; and where an ex-serviceman died as the resuit of war service a i bronze plaque will be supplied free J of cost. . Where death is not due to war service a charge of £5 13s will be made for the plaque. Plain metal markers -will be used until a plaque is fltted. The usual sexton's fee is still payable hy the next-of-kin. It is" pointed out, however, that even if a plaque has to be paid for, the £5 13s is the reduced price, havmg first been subject to a reduction of 25 per cent by a Govemment subsidy. I The Levin R.S.A. reqqests that in tlie case of a death of any person as above classified. and it is desired that he or she be interred in the servicemen's cemetery, the next-of-kin contact the secretary, , Mr. J. Corbishley, immediately. The person need not necessarily ■have been a member of the R.S.A. At all such funerals the R.S.A. is represented. The cemetery committee comprlses: Messrs C. E. Wiseley, W. Meddings and J. Corbishley. ' A full-time sexton. will be in. charge of the grounds.