MEMORIAL SHRINE

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 106, 7 May 1934, Page 16

MEMORIAL SHRINE

AUCKLAND MUSEUM

DESIGNS FOR THE WINDOWS

(From "The Post's" Representative.)

LONDON, March 29.

Mr( A. L... Ward, tho stained glass window, artist who is responsible for the windows of King's College Chapel, and who has been appointed;to make the windows for the shrine in the Auckland War Memorial Museum, has completed his coloured sketches, and they are being dispatched to New Zealand at anearly date. The order is' for nine lights Bft 3ih in height and :4ft; 6in wide. It is' understood that they will bo .hung in. tho museum for public inspection. . ...""•.

AH the nine- lights will he employed for a complete picture. The central three, which will meet eyes of observers immediately they enter the room, will be the principal section of the scene and present the most brilliant colours. The central light contains the dominant; figure ■of Christ. ■, He is in armonr and mounted " npdii "a white charger, a shining sword in His right hand and the Banner of Victory in His left. He is supported by St. Michael, the Captain of the Hosts of the Lord, ■winged, and with a flaming sword, and by_St. George, the Patron Saint of the British Empire, armoured and holding the Union Flag on a lance. The group is shownon.clouds "with several emblematic figures surrounding them. On the left hand light is the King, tho visible representative of the Empire, and on the right hand light the Queen. Both are in Coronation robes. Behind tSeoi respectively arts tlio figures 61 King' Edward 111 and Queen Elizabeth. Other figures in these lights*, are the Duke of Wellington, Nelson, Earl Haig, and Earl Jellicoe.

Along the bottom of the three central lights are tho words: "He goeth forth conquering and to conquer'} tho-Armies of Heaven follow Him." ; .'.'•-.

On the flanking windows on, the left are a "piper and a drummer,'khaki uniformed ranks of New Zealand infantry, Army Service Corps, officer and • men with wagon, a cyclist, artillery officers in -front of a gun, and a mounted dispatch rider. On the. flanking windows on the right are naval units, nurses and ■women's auxiliary corps, a chaplain, stretcher bearers, mounted medical officer and ambulance, motor-cyclist, Maori engineer officers, and. . mounted' troops. . ... ■ . - : .

A secondary theme is seen as n background, abovo all those modern troops. The idea carried out in the sky ia calling to mind the hosts of our forefathers who handed down the Empire and its responsibilities, and who built it and fought for it. Here, are King Alfred with his Saxons, a Boman Legion, Crohiwollian and Crimean soldiers, knights in armour, nien and officers of the oldtime nary, Florence- Nightingale and the women who; followed the old-time armies, ancient Britons, and Maori warriors. The riband along the bottom of the lights gives the name of the countries and battles in which the--New Zealand troops fought. Four shields are shown pendant from the architectural- work at the- -to-jj. These .-represent, the Diocese of Auckland, the Province of Aucl<land, the tree fern, and the Maori cross.