THE UNKNOWN DEAD.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 March 1924, Page 1

THE UNKNOWN DEAD.

MEMORIAL TO THOSE WHO FELL IN YPRES SALIENT.

“FOR UNIVERSAL PEACE.”

At a meeting of the imperial War Graves Commission, a report of which has just been received by the New Zealand Government, ALajor-Generul Sir Fabian Ware, K.C.V.0., K.R.E., C. 8., C.M.G., reported that Air Rudyard Kipling had drawn up inscriptions for the Alenin Gate.

The inscriptions are as follows:

(!) Oil the main central stone of the areli: "To the armies cf the British Empire who stood here from 191-1 to 1918, and to those of their dead who have no known grave.” (2) In connection with the names the following: "Here are recorded names of officers and men who fell in Ypres salient, but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.” As the inscription was longer than desired bv the architect, arrangements had been made for the size of the stone to be enlarged. UNVEILING CEI! EAI ON lES. There had been unveiling ceremonies on Armistice Day ill Palestine and Syria, at Beyfout, Gaza, and Beershebt. The Minister for Agriculture, Mr ■Sanders, visited the British cemetery at Boulogne. M. Poincare was also present, and laid a wreath on the graves. NAVAL MEMORIALS. The Prince of Wales had agreed to unveil the first of the naval memorials —that at Chatham. A suggestion bad been made that the three memorials should lie unveiled simultaneously, but tins bad been found impossible, Portsmouth having been delayed owing to trouble with foundations. The .Minister hopes the ceremony at Chatham will take place next month. EOR UNIVERSAL PEACE. A further report stated that .Mr Bruce, Prime Minister of Australia, bad paid a visit to the cemeteries, and luul been greatly impressed. In a speech at the Colonial Institute, he paid tribute to the care taken of the cemeteries. Whore the grave was that of a soldier unknown the fact was recorded with the words “Known unto God.” It was the first time in the history of tbo'workl after any great war that true honour bad been paid to the dead. These memories would remain for all time as evidence of the sacrifice and suffering which followed such a greal war, and they could only have the effect of weighting the scale in favour of that universal peace which all men so ardently longed for. ALL PARTS OF EMPIRE.

Sir Fabian Ware suggested that they should take advantage of the presence of Dominion visitors to the Empire Exhibition to bold a small ceremony at Brookwood on Empire Day. Rrookwood cemetery was the largest and most representative cemetery they had in the United Kingdom in which soldiers from all parts of the Empire wore buried. If the Commission approved, lie would see if anything of the kind could be arranged. The Dominion representatives approved of the suggestion.’