MARNE MEMORIAL

Hokitika Guardian, 28 December 1928, Page 8

MARNE MEMORIAL

Fours JOY AT REUNION. J ; A FERTE-SOUS-JOU ARRE, Nov. o. I lie unveiling of the memorial to those of the dead oi' the original British Expeditionary Force whose remains are unknown took place at La Fete-sous-Jouarre, on the Marne, yesterday. It was a ceremony which stood out among so many of its kind lor a number ol reasons. The memorial itself is a very fine one. it is at least singularly massive and imposing, rising upon many tiers oi steps—with something o‘x the lines of a fort itself—in a posiliofi of marked prominence beside the great eastern highway to .Metz, and upon the very hanks of the Marne in an around which so many of those it commemorates fell in the hour of our first victory. A esterday was a day taken from the summer months of the year, and the sun shone in full glory upon the scene. The apex of the monument, which is a carved replica of a steel helmet covering and protecting with other accoutrements a pair of crossed sceptres, rose radiantly lit in tile midst of such a panorama of high wooded hank and shining waters as few if any memorials can boast. FRENCH TRIBUTE. '1 he tribute of the "reach people was on this occasion singularly marked too. There was something specially earnest about it. Let alone the presence of Marshal Koch and of General AYoygand and other distinguished officials of the State, there was something impulsive in the way the country people gathered and once or twice started to break into applause. At the foot of the royal crown which is the centrepiece of the monument tlie children of La Forte gathered together in a little flock and sang a “Saint Prolix ” the English dead, apostrophising them in their high voices as “ 0 Martyrs! O Valiant Ones!”

The mayor of the town repeated with touching insistence the story of bow our troops relieved bis town, and then, in the name of La. Ferte, laid on the memorial the largest and one of the finest wreaths I can ever recall seeing. LIVING MEMORIAL.

For all this there was a particular reason, and it lay in that which gave its special character to the ceremony—the presence in front of the monument of about 120 members of the old force still serving with the Colours.

There were two monuments at La Forte, and fine as was that, of stone, one’s glance turned repeatedly during bin ..n-ninony to that other sight, those four lines cf men. li those who answered the first clarion call, lived through all the years of death, and are still under the old colours which tliev themselves inscribed with honour do not constitute a memorial, what, indeed, is a memorial?

Every regiemnt, every associated section of the old Regular Army was there. Some were there whom the Army of to-day cannot claim. Many .of the cavalry men represented merged units, and ,even more touching, the Irish regiments which have gone, for ever were represented at La Eerte too. Here and there in those well-disciplin-ed ranks you saw the badges, o >fthe old Ministers and Dublius and the others borne by men serving now in other corps, lmt for this great occasion bringing their old regiment to life again. The very situation of the monument commemorated a loss, in unknown graves or unentombed, of 3,888 men, very nearly a sixth part of the oiigmal Force which crossed from England. Looking down at the Guard of Honour a Frenchman beside me said, “ It is almost a miracle to see any df these men.’

Indeed, I say that they made a fine Guard of Honour under their commander, Colonel Hey wood, of the Coldstream Guards, and four other British Expeditionary Force officers —Lieut.-Col Bullock Marsham of the 3rcl-6th Dragoons; Lieut-Col. AYhite, of the. Royal Artillery; Capt. Miller, of the Iving’s ~wu; and Capt. Miller, the. Dnectoi of Music of the Grenadier Guards.

Nearly every member of the Guards is a senior N.C.O. now, and their breasts were bright with medals. Marshal Eoch went down the ranks, touching the many medals of a soldier here aiul there with an almost affectionate'gesture, smiling at them as he went and recalling memories of the past to those with him.- “1 was as pround as possible to be with them again,” he said later, and repeated it more thane once.

'The actual ceremony was bcfiittengly military and simple.

Sir William Pulteney, who had himself commanded the Third Corps on the occasion of the Battle of the Marne, unveiled the memorial by drawing aside linked flags.

A new character was given to the playing oi the Highland lament “ Flowers of the Forest,” for the pipers as they played mounted, the steps of the monument and then passed behind it and were then lost to sight over t»-e high steps, so that the strains died u»vay towards the Marne and were heard with the true haunting effect for which the pipers are intended. Sir Georg© Milne laid a wreath of the monument on behalf of the King and Queen. The Army and the various Dominions also sent wreaths, Mr Roy. the Canadian Minister, being present himself to lay Canada’s wreath at the request of Air Mackenzie King, bis Premier.