WAR MEMORIAL UNVEILED.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 November 1925, Page 4

WAR MEMORIAL UNVEILED.

HEW BRIGHTON CEREMONY. GOV ERNi >R-C EX Eli Al.'S ADDRESS. i. 11 RISTCiI CRCII. November i’. An inspiring address was given by his Excellency the Governor-Genera], Sir Charles I'ergtissnii. yesterday when he unveiled the war memorial erected by the residents of New Brighton. There was a large gathering, inelud-

ing returned soldiers. Territorials. Scouts and school children. The guard of honour was provided by the Ist Canterbury Regiment. Sir Charles Kergiisvou and Lady Alice Eergussott were accompanied by Captain Wentworth. In welcoming their Excellencies, the Mayor (Mr .L Gambler said that New Brighton was honoured that his Excellency had spared the time to come ajtd unveil the memorial. It was fitting (hat the first official visit of his Excellency should lake place in connection with the memorial. It had boon erected to do honour to those who event from No" Brighton and who lost their lives in the service of their King, whose represent ati ve hi-. Excellency was. The hope was expressed by the Mayor that at some future time their Excellencies would pay another visit. It was hoped that’ their Excellencies would have a happy term of office, that it would he a long one. and that they would return home pleased that they I came to this country. Concerning the memorial, he said that ho was pleased that even at this late date. New Brighton had honoured those who went from the borough to tight for home and for liberty in the Great War.

Alter the prayer of dedication, pronounced by the Rev. E. T. Rend. C.E.. the unveiling was performed hv his Excellency. who said: "To the glory of God and in proud and loving memory of the men of New Brighton who laid down their lives for their country we unveil this memorial.” The memorial is inscribed, "To Our Glorious Dead.” til his address his Excellency thanked the .Mayor for the welcome extended to her Excellency anti himself. He said that they hoped during the next few years to pay other visits and makemore acquaintanceships and, he hoped, more friendships.

SAD MEArORrES. “And now. ray friends." his Excellency continued, “ may I try to express some of the feelings which you and T are experiencing on this occasion. The unveiling of a war memorial is a very solemn occasion, and it brings hack to maiiv of us recollections of varied kind. There are some here to-day to whom this occasion brings up. I know, very sad memories. They are those who were the relations of the men whom we arc commemorating, who knew those

men ns children, and who had many hopes and many aspirations for their future, which new have been shattered. To all of them we offer our most sincere sympathy. I believe that 1 shall be voicing their feelings in saying that they themselves would not wish things to be otherwise, because they have a pride which no man can take from them—the pride of knowing that those whom they loved did not shrink, but did their duty, and that feeling will carry them through all the bitterness and agony of their loss. Then there are others among you who will remember these men as hoys and young men. They will remember the sadness of young lives like these being cut short. Then again there are many here to-day the men standing behind me (the returned soldiers), who will remember these men as those with whom they drilled, marched and fought, and whom also in many cases they saw die. 'I ho rest of us will remember these men as representing that great army ol the dead who died for us and their King

and country. CKLATEST EPIC IX HISTORY. “ These are all mournful memories, hut I aiu sure that we should not wish this day lo be one of mourning only. On the contrary, it is a day of thanksgiving to (lod Who gave us the example of those splendid lives, and made this a day of rejoicing in that these men of Xow Brighton showed themselves worthy of their families, of their town and district and of the country that gave them birth. That, I think is the note we .should really strike at this function. But there is one more thing: Remember that we are commemorating the greatest epic in history, the greatest example of self-sacrifice. Remember what these men gave up for us. They little thought, most of them, that they would ever lie called to fighl or go through what they did. They were not trained to deeds of heroism, yet when the call came they went cheerfully, unshrinkingly and wholeheartedly. They gave up all they held dear, their homes, their families and their careers, all that they had hoped for, and thev went out to a life which was entirely strange to them and which from day lo day was beyond almost what human minds can conceive. They faced the miseries of the trenches, the hardships, the constant waitiifg lotdanger, and it never broke their spirit. They died, and even when they died there was a note of triumph in the air. They never failed their comrades, and they gave up their lives cheerfully and without thought, because it was their duty. That, my friends, is the story of Nelf-sacriiice of which this memorial speaks. It can be put in the same words which were spoken 201)0 years ago about the men who died for their country. These were the men who. when the moment came, preferred to resist rather than to fly and save their lives. They ran away from the word of dishonour, but on Lbe battlefield their feet stood fast, and at the moment of their late, they passed from the scene, not of the fear, hut of their glory. If that was true of the A thenin ns in the old days, it was more than ever true of the men to whose memory this memorial is erected.

LESSON OF SACRIFICES. “ They had great faith in us. They believed we would see that their lives were not wasted —that the sacrifices which they made would build up a new country and a new world, and that we ■would see to it that that sacrifice was not in tain. Are we doing that' Well, my friends, that may be answered in many ways, but if we are lo be worthy of them we must learn the lesson ot the sacrifice which they taught us. W. must bring it into our daily lives. On. lives were spared not because they were more useful, but because there was slit. ! work for us to do. ’there is much thin we can do to carry out the task thes; men set fiir us and to show ourselveworthv of them. W’e can help, and no. obstruct; we can build, and not pul down ; and if everyone would learn the lesson of showing more sympathy, more understanding, less bitterness and Itsselfishness in our daily lives, and in out relations with our fellow-men, then ! think this memorial, instead of simply being a block' of stone, will he real an living in our lives, and as such it wil he a lit memorial to these men. If L a wonderful lesson to remind us that if ever the call comes to us wo must he worthy of these men who showed itthat they knew their duty and had tin courage to do it. W’e must try to pas.on to .these hoys and girls that sane, lesson, so that when they ask the old question, • What mean ye by these stones!'’ we may 1 ell them that these stones commemorate their lathers an;! ! grandfathers who, when the call ui duty came, freely gare their lives for their fellow-men and their toumry. .Way tuis memorial he to every one el us an iueentiie and inspiration to do our duty, to he better citizens and more loyal to Clod, and our King and Country.” The president of the Christchurch Returned Soldiers’ Association (..dr If. ,1. lx night < snid that it was gratifying that almost every city, town and borough in New Zealand had erected, a memorial. He thought that the lesson of the nv.'inorial was one particularly for the children. Me impressed on them never lo be afraid of standing up for the National Anthem, or of saluting the Hag for which so many of their rare sited their blood. They should always honour stub a memorial, and the New Zealand and British soldiers would not have died in vain. The order of the service included the hymns. 11 0 find, our Help in Ages Bast," ”0 Valiant Hearts” and "Lead Kingly Light,” and a prayer in commemoration of the fallen. After the Benediction the “ Last Post " was sounded, and two verses of the National Anthem were sung.