MILITARY CEMETERIES

Hokitika Guardian, 28 January 1925, Page 1

MILITARY CEMETERIES

THE GALLIOPOLI AREA.. LONDON, December IC. Lieut.-Col. C, E. Hughes, C.8.E., who lias been Deputy-Director of AVorks for tho Imperial War Graves Commission at Gallipoli, has arrived in London, and lie says that the whole of tho construction work of the cemeteries and memorials was completed in September. The work carried out includes six cemeteries at Helles, four, at Suvla, twenty-one at Anzac, two at Constantinople, and two at Aludros. There are also three memorials to the missing—a New Zealand one on top of Chanak Bair; an Australian one at Lone Pine; and the Imperial Memorial at Cape Helles. The surround walls of tho Cape Helles are built to take the panels with tho names of missing and those buried at sea, while on the base of the plinth itself are four panels, one on each side, with tlic names of every unit and ship which took part in Gallipoli. All the cemeteries have been planted with trees and shrubs, New Zealand and Australian flora being represented. A small staff is still at I.AALG.C. headquarters on Dardanelles, and it is proposed that after April the permanent Maintenance Staff will carry on'; It will probably consist of two old Anzacs who will have under them local personnel as gardeners. “Those whose loved ones sleep on Gallipoli,” says Colonel Hughes, “may rest assured that their graves will be always well cared for. No trouble is expected from the Turks. Of course, it is impossible to forecast the future, but such.is the respect that our people earned by their fighting qualities, and that respect has been maintained by the Australians and New Zealanders who have been working on Gallipoii for the last four years, that I personally feel there is not the slightest doubt of their safety. “The New Zealand memorial commands a fine site. Its inscription commemorates tho officers, N.C.O.’s and men of New Zealand who fell in the attack on Chanak Bair in August, 1915, and ends with the simple phrase: “From the utmost ends of the Earth.” So to those who come from the many corners of our Emipre, as their ship drops anchor in Chanak Bair, with its niemorinis to the Dominion’s dead, this is their first view of Anzac. The members of the Commission who were in Gallipoli have passed on to other areas. Lieut. A. AV. Mildenhall (Christchurch), and Lieut. E. T. Alair (Auckland) are still on this side of the world, one being in France and the other in the London head office. To those in New Zealand who wish to communicate direct with Imperial AA'ar Graves Commission in the Gallipoli area should address letters: Area Superintendent, Box 13, Turkish Tost Office, Chanak. No decision lias yet been made as to unveiling. Visitor arc recommended not. to go to Gallipoli except between Alav and September. The trip can be made quite easily in good weather from Port Said each week, there being a Khedival mail-boat going from there to Constantinople, and stopping at Chanak each Sunday morning. The only accommodation at present is with the 1 AV.G.O. staid’, who should be advised of a visit.