MILITARY NOTES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5460, 12 August 1929, Page 4

MILITARY NOTES.

MEMORIAL PLAQUES. EARLY APPLICATION REQUIRED Recently a notification was published that the Imperial Government were issuing memorial plaques and scrolls, together with a letter from His Majesty, on account of those members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force who have died since being discharged from the forces provided the death took place on or before August 31, 1928, and that it was the result of war service. The Government has now received a despatch stating that the Memorial Plaque Factory will be closed as soon as. the outstanding demands have been dealt with. In the circumstances the Defence Department is forwarding to the United Kingdom a final list of applications, and this will include all those received by the Department in or before .August 26, therefore the relatives of the deceased soldiers should not delay communicating with Base Records Office, Wellington, relative their claim to receive memorials. Subsequent to August 26, all applications of this kind will be declined, and the relatives of ex-soldiers will not have cause to blame tie New Zealand Defence Department if their neglect means to them the loss of the beautiful memorials. . Together with the foregoing Lieut,Colonel R. B. Smythe, AdjutantGeneral, New Zealand Forces, addressed the following letter* to the editor of the “ Hauraki Plains Gazette ” :—. “The above paragraph deals with a very important matter, and is one which cannot be brought to the notice of relatives of deceased soldiers except by the kindness of yourself and the editors of other papers. Acting for the Imperial Government, the N.Z. Defence Department has issued 17,00 C plaques and scrolls to the relatives of soldiers who died on active service, and that these are greatly prized is evidenced by the fact that if one is accidentally destroyed very special efforts are made by the losers to obtain a re-issue, and sorrow is expressed when it is explained that the Imperial regulations do not permit any replacement. You will note that His Majesty’s Government has definitely decided to close the plaque factory, and therefore I have endeavoured in the paragraph to urge relatives to take immediate action. If you will kindly publish the paragraph in an early issue of your paper I shall be much obliged.” THE HAURAKI REGIMENT. Presentation of Trophies. Territorials and cadets paraded at Waihi last Thursday evening, when the Waihi platoon, Ist battalion, Hauraki Regiment, was presented with silver medals won during the interbattalion sports. The winning of the medals counted in points for the efficiency shield, which was on view at the, parade, and was Avon by the ma-chine-gun company of the regiment. Major E. A. Porritt, M.C., who was accompanied by Lieutenant V. J. Innes, N.Z.S.C., adjutant, made thepresentation.