ANZAC HEROES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 11, 8 October 1918, Page 6

ANZAC HEROES

UNVEILING OF A TABLET

AN IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY

There was an impressive though brief ceremony at the unveiling of a tablet erected to the memory of Lieutenant L. W. A. Hugo and Second Lieutenant H. E. Voyce, both of whom were attached to the Technical College Cadets, the former being the O.C. Both men joined the Main Body, Lieutenant Hugo being attached to the Wellington Battalion, and Lieutenant Voyce went with the . Engineer Signal Corps. The latter obtained his commission in Egypt and was posted to the Worcester liegiment and went with his men to Gallipoli. Lieutenant Hugo Janded at Anzao Cove and was killed on April 27, 1915, two days after landing, and was buried on Walker's Ridge. Lieutenant Voyce was killed on August 6, 1915, at Cape Holies. When the news of Lieutenant Hugo's death was received the boys in the Technical College voluntarily proprosed to erect a tablet to his memory, and found the money for the purpose, and later, when Lieutenant Voyce fell, it was desided to erect the tablet to the memory of both men. Tlie tablet unveiled last evening was executed by Mr. J. Ellis, who is connected with the art department of the college. It is of wood, and is intended to be of a temporary character, as it is proposed to erect a marble tablet when a new school is erected on the Mount Cook site. The Cadets, in full strength, paraded in Wakefield Street, under the command of Captain Martin, and behind them were the girl students of tho'college. The Hon. J. G. W. Aitken presided, and there were present, besides the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke, C.M.G.), Messrs. T. Ballingcr, T. Forsyth, J. E. Fitzgerald, and A. Atkins, members of the Technical Education Board, Captains Cross, Bryan, and Ruck, who were on Gallipoli with tho deceased officers. Tlie relatives of both officers wore also present. The proceedings opened and closed with the singing of tbe National Anthem. The Hon. J. G. W. Aitken, speaking from the steps of the college, in inviting tho Mayor to perform the unveiling ceromony, said that lie had to apologise for the absence of the Minister of Defence and the Minister c.f Education, who were out of town and much regretted they were unable to be present. Ho also apologised for the absence of Mr. G. Frost, the chairman of the Technical Education Board, who had been seized with the prevailing inlluenza epidemic and was confined to his home. Continuing, the speaker said that in asking the Mayor to perform' tho unveiling ceromony he did so with mixed feelings, for they were partly sad and thoy were partly feelings of pride, lie was sad because the tablet was to commemorate the deaths of two men who had been connected with the Technical College Citduts, and who had taken aXgreat part in training the boys in their military duties. Both men wero among the first to enlist voluntarily, and they went away with the Main Body. There wero officers present who served with Lieutenants Hugo and Voyce in Gallipoli, and they were present to bear testimony to the good work of the dead officers. It was right that they should remember the groat sacrifices they had. made. Ho' then called upon tho Mayor to unveil the tablet.

Mr. Luke said ho felt embarrassed, after being reminded by Mr. Aitken of tho grout sacrifices made by Lieutenants Hugo and Voyce in the cause of liberty and humanity. It was right and fitting that they should pay a tribute to their meiflory. They had done good work at the school before going to tho war. Ho valued the training given in the Technical College, not alone for the education imparted, but also for its social side. None of us could rightly judge of the great sacrifices inado by these men or imagine what they went through on Gallipoli Peninsula. They experienced very many hardships, and the greatest feature of that campaign was the evacuation of the Peninsula with practically not a single casualty. Gallipoli held many treasures of people in New Zealand, and one thing that must he insisted upon was that the Turks should bo made to hand over to the British tho Gallipoli Peninsula, because of its sacredness to .so many British people Mr. Luke said ho had known both the deceased officers, and had respected them, and he now held them in the highest veneration. He sympathised with the relatives, for he knew they wero sorrowing. On behalf of the citizens of Wellington he would unveil the tablet to the memory of Lieutenants Hugo and Voyce. Mr. Luke then removed the New Zealand Ensign draping .the tablet, which,is fixed to thp wall in the lobby near tho college office. Though, intended to be temporary, the tablet is of handsome design and is artistically exeetucd. Mr. W. S. la Trobe. Director of the Technical College, returned thanks, and with cheers for the Mayor, the soldiers at the front, and Mr. la Trobe, the proceedings terminated.