THE MIGHTY DEAD.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 February 1922, Page 2

THE MIGHTY DEAD.

CARE FOR THE GRAVES. There was not a large attendance at the Town Hall last night to hear Revd. Mullineux M.C. discourse on the war graves restoration in France and Belgium, but those who attended were told a remarkable story of what was Being done to care for the graves of, the E'mpire’s mighty dead. The address was full of deep interest, and the story brought home the Btern realities of war. Also there was comfort and relief in M the knowledge that though the glam- y our of the war had passed, there were those devoted to the duty to care in a practical way for the dead heroes upon the many battlefields of Europe. Tluthe many battlefields of Europe. The Deputy Mayor (Mr Coulson) presided and briefly introduced the Revd., lecturer who at once plunged into his story of engrossing interest.

When the armistice came in 1918. there were already 3,600 cemeteries in the war area for British soldiers. The work of organisation to identify the dead, recover the scattered bodies, and place the cemeteries in seemly order, went on apace. Mr Mullineux gave details of the work, and the complete and thorough manner in which .it wag carried out. He told of the beautiful areas now being put in order as cemeteries, and hoiv they were being tend, ed. 1 There were 1,300 gardeners employed permanently to keep the grounds beautiful. There was equality and uniformity for the mighty dead, officers and privates alike being laid to their final rest with similar burial rites, and marks. The headstones and flower beds were all uniform and whether the grave was that of a general or a private there was no special mark of distinction. The gathering of the bodies from the various outposts was a slow process. But .it Avas a duty discharged with great patience and thoroughness. There was an' obligation on the peasantry to report, the finding of any human remains, and an official burial party at once cared for the recovered relics. Christian burial was given and the fullest record tapen and properly registered as to the identity of the remains.

Mr Mullineux also spoke of the work of the St. Barnabas organisation in assisting next to kin to visit the graves of their loved ones. To this end hostels Avere established and guides supplied, and it Avas possible to arrange visits at a minimum of cost from England to France or Belgium. The organisation also supplied photos of special graves or of cemeteries, and in this connection Mr Mullineux stated that last year he had taken 841 photographs of graves a task involving some 7,000 miles of travelling. The lecturer appealed for help to further the hostel work. A building Avas required at Ypres particularly for visiting pilgrims and contributions towards that necessity Avould be welcomed.

At the close of the soul-stirring address Hon. Michel moved and Mr Evans seconded a vote of thanks to the lecturer. The Deputy Mayor supported the motion Avhich Avas carried. A collection Avas taken up towards defraying the travelling expenses of the lecturer in his self-imposed tour of the Dominion.