PAPAKURA WAR MEMORIAL.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 640, 10 June 1921, Page 11

PAPAKURA WAR MEMORIAL.

UNVEILED BY V3SCOUNT JELLICOE. AN IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY. The monument erected at Papakura in memory of the men from the district who died in the war was unveiled on Sunday afternoon by the Governor-General, Lord JellicAe. The ceremony, which was brief brnf very impressive, was performed in the presence of about 2000 people. Lady Je-ll'coe and two daughters accompanied His Excellency, the Vice-Regal party being welcomed to the district by the chairman of the Papakura Town Board (Mr S. Evans), who has also acted as chairman of the War Memorial Committee.

Their Excellencies were introduced by Sir Frederick Lang to the members of the Town Board and the Memorial Committee.

The chairman then addressed Their Excellencies as follows: Your Excellencies —On behalf of the local authority and the residents of Papakura, I extend a hearty welcome to our township. The attendance to-day of the largest concourse of people who have gathered together here at any particular function confirms that welcome. Also the fact that Your Excellency is so interested in the children has preceded you, and the scholars of the district school have come to do you honour. We are proud to-day in having with tip the representative ol our Gracious Majesty King George V. Such an honour wo have not had since that great statesman, Sir George Grey, stayed with the father of one of our present citizens, Mr Cole. Also, in the person of Your Excellency, we have the hero who directed our glorious navy to victory in the greatest sea battle of the recent Great War. Ever since the Battle ol Jutland your name has been a household word. To-day we can personally join with a grateful nation in thanking you for standing between us and our great peril, and with the aid of the brave men of the navy, driving back that peril from our Empire. We ffope that Your Excellencies’ sojourn in this fair land of New Zealand will he marked by peace in our Empire, a renewed prosperity in our Dominin, and a happy and enjoyable time for yourselves and youi family. On behalf of the Memorial Committee, I thank Your Excellency for so graciously conceding to our invitation to be present today. Again extending to Your Excellencies our best wishes during your term of office. I. respectfully invite Your Excellency to perform the ceremony of unveiling this memorial erected to our Glorious Dead. His Excellency replied:—l thank you for your words of welcome. I consider it an honour to he present on such an occasion as this and I hope it will not be my last visit to your township.

Mr J. Batty, formerly chairman of the Karaka Road Board, which is now merged in the Franklin County Council; Mr. J. W. HeaLd, a membei of the Franklin County CouneiljMr. A. D. Bell, chairman of the Manukau County Council; Mr T. J. Corin, chairman of the Manurewa Town Board; Mr A. Hall, chairman of the Papatoetoc Town Board; Mr J, Routley. Mayor of Pukekohe; Mr Dynes Fulton, chairman of the Tuakau Town Board, and members of the Pukekohe Chamber of Commerce; and Mr. Ev W. Inder, and Mr G. E. Eliott, secretary and respectively of the Auckland Returned Soldiers’ Association, were among those present. The band of the Third (Auckland) Infantry Regiment attended, and a firing party was supplied by the Auckland Mounted Rifes Regiment. Sixty returned soldiers. under Major C. R. S-pragg, formed a guard of honour, The singing of the National Anttkem was followed by the hymn “0 God, Our Help in Ages past.” Prayers were said by the Rev. F. Hales, and were followed by a Scripture reading by the Rev. G. B. Hinton.

In removing the flags that shrouded the monument, the crowning feature of which is a sculptured life-size figure of a New Zealand soldier in full lighting equipment, Lord Jellieoe said; “To the glory of God, and in memory of the men of the PapakuraKaraka district who gave their lives hi the Great War, I unveil this memorial.'’ His Excellency then read the names, 32 in number, inscribed on the monument. The firing party fu o.i three volleys and a trumpeter sounded the “Last Post,” after which the band played the Dead March in ‘•Saul.” The War Memorial Committee had arranged for a wreath to be a ..ado 'u memory of each of the disti ids fallen warriors, and these tribuie;' were ’placed on the steps of tne monument by girls attending the prim.ary school. There were, in addiL'n.e. many floral emblems from pviale individuals, also one from the Auekl and Returned Soldiers’ Association. j ’ R-iPeoe, in a shott address, • .1 i:V a 1 ad gathered to do honour i-, tlso gtorio us deed, and to show heartfelt sympathy for those vum

bereaved. All joined in pride in thinking of the sacrifice thgt had been made for King and Empire. Many comrades of the men whose names were inscribed on the memorial were present and he knew they felt very much in their hearts the sacrifice that had been paid for the glory of God and the safety of civilisation. New Zealand, His Excellency said, gave of her best in the great cause, and it was fitting that the memory of New Zealand’s dead should be honoured throughout all ages. Let us endeavour to • show ourselves wrthy of the sacrifice of the fallen men. Let us at least in gratitude for their sacrifice do our best to carry out the ideals for which the war was fought and which if wo did carry them out, Would lead to a nobler and happier civilisation in the future.

As rain appeared to be imminent, the Rev. W.» C, Wood said he would not deliver the address which he had prepared, hut he desired to' make reference to a name which did not appear on the monument and which he thought ought to be mentioned. His mind went hack 11 years, when he had the pleasure of instructing a

company of boy scouts, many of the keenest of whom had their names on the memorial. There was one, however, who left Papakura shortly before- the war and served in the British Navy, taking part in the raids at Os tend and Zeebrugge. He received wounds which proved fatal, but he lived long enough to be decorated by a grateful monarch. The man he referred to was Roy Alexander. A memorial /hymn. “For Our Dead Heroes,” and the hymn “For All the Saints,” were sung and the ceremony, concluded with the National Anthem. Level and Lady Jellicoe shook hands with a number of the returned soldiers and relatives of the 1 alien heroes. Before departing they were entertained at afternoon tea at the public school. On Monday His Excellency sent his car cut specially with a wreath which was placed on the memorial. The folic.wing words were written thereon: “A tribute of admiration for the Glorious Dead from Admiral Viscount and Viscountess Jellicoe.”