OUR WAR GRAVES
DISCUSSION AT THE IMPERIAL WAR CONFERENCE MR. MASSEY'S VIEWS In the minutes of proceedings of* the War Confereuce of 1918, recently pub? lislied as a Blue' Book, the most interesting discussion for New Zealand was that on the care of war graves (writes the London correspondent of the New Zealand Press Agency). It was estimated that the work of the War Graves Commission could be carried out at an average sum-per officer or man buried of ,£lO. No estimate has been made of the cost of memorials to* those whose graves have been identified, but it will be less in proportion. The estipinte does not cover G-allipoli, owing to the impossibility'of getting access to the cemeteries there. , ' Mr. Massey asked whether the Turkish Government had been approached or any start made in the way of negotiations to, enable them to have access to tho land where their dead wore buried in Gallipoli. 1 General Ware replied that every nossible pressure had been put on the Turkish 'Government, and certain information had been supplied by the Vatican, but it was not of much value. A number of photographs had also been taken. Possibly, however, the activities of the Vatican would stop the desecration of the graves. He' assured Mr. Massey thaL the Commission intended _to bring pressure to l>ear. General are said that a Headstones Committee had been formed—Sir Frederick Ile.nyon, Mr. D; S.. /■M'Coll (Keeper of the Wallace Collection), Mr. C. J. Holnies (Director of the National Gallery), and Mr. Mncdonald Gill, '''here was not thelabour in the world to carve the badges far the headstones if each regiment required its own, but experiments were being made on a process which it was hoped would be successful. It was. proposed! that there should be a distinctive dominion or na-. tional badge, and possibly a regimental badge also. , Equals in Death. The chairman (Mr. -Walter Long) said it had been' decided unanimously that there 'should be no -d ! stinction between "the memorials of officers and men. There was a desire on the part, of some people to erect their own private memorials after the wa.r. This vas very natural, but it.was felt that all woulfl-really wish, when they came to think it over, • t.lmt the graves of those who tad fought and died should be >marked without distinction ,of rank. The headstones: would vary according to regiments and dominions, but tlie-scheme would preclude the erection of a larger and perhaps more decorative form of headstone. There would be no distinction between the general officer and the private, except in regard to the forces to which he belonged. ; ' ■ \ ' Mr. Massey: Would not the rank of officers be.given? : General Waro: It would be stated in the'inscription. ; ' Mr.' Hughes: But there would be no distinction of any kind in the monument? General Ware: Yes. Speaking generally, officers and-men of the same regiment will, have the saino headstone. There will be no difference. The distinction between regiments will be chiefly in . the badge. . Sir Robert Borden expressed pleasure that the principle of equality of treatment of all graves was to be carried out. It was -entirely appropriate that among the ranks of the dead there should be no distinction. , ' "V Mr. Hughes: I feel perfectly sure that will be received with general satisfaction. All these men have died. No man could do more—general or'private— than give up his life for his country. ■' Mr. Massey- also expressed pleasure. He asked whether'it would he possible to accept' the contributions of patriotic and 'philanthropic people who would like to use,part of their capital 'for ■ the pur* pose of taking care of the graves, or perhaps for specially taking care of graves in some particular cemetery. General Ware said.jt was decided last year that the .commission should be given power to receive such bequests. Money could be spent on different- objects. T?or instance, arrangements' could bo made so that people who 'could not afford to go to France to see tho "raves after the war might bo assisted to go.. But.it was not intended that private money .should be used for the actual work of construction.; , Mr. Massey: My recollection is that wo decided that contributions were not to be asked for, but that people who felt inclined might contribute if they thought proper. I want to emphasise again the necessity whenever opportunity affoi"Js, of something being done to take better care of the graves of the men who died at Gallipoli. Wo have a duty* so far as .the memory of those men is concerned —there is no question about that—and I ;regTet, thoujrh I -am noKfinding fault with anyone, that it has not been found possible to do very much in the way of improving matters in Gallipoli up to tho present. 'I do hope that wfien opportunity offers this matter will not be lost sight of, and that the commission .will be successful in making some satisfactory arrangements with regard .to cemeteries and other nlaces where oni* men are buried in Gallipoli.
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Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 84, 3 January 1919, Page 6
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839OUR WAR GRAVES Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 84, 3 January 1919, Page 6
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