WAR MEMORIAL AT MOUTOA

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2910, 16 July 1925, Page 3

WAR MEMORIAL AT MOUTOA

UNVEILED BY MR LINKLATER.

The unveiling of the Moutoa soldiers’ war memorial took place on Monday morning in the presence of ■ a large attendance. The Mayor of Shannon (Mr W. Murdoch 1. Cr. Tlnvaites and the town clerk (Mr •1. T. Bovis) represented the Shannon citizens and there were visitors present from all parts of the district. The unveiling ceremony was performed by Mr .J. Link-later, M.P. The memorial takes the form of gates at the entrance of the school, with a tablet placed on one side, whereon are inscribed the names of -oldiers from the district. It is an artistic piece of work and one of which coming generations may justly feel proud of. The ceremony, which was very impressive, was held in front of Ihe memorial gates, and commenced with the singing of the National Anthem, followed by the hymn “God of Our Fathers.” A portion of Scripture was then read by the Rev. A. F. Stewart, followed by a prayer and the hymn “(), God Our Help in Ages Past.” Mr Linklater, M.P., was then called on to address the gathering and in doing so said that he felt it a very great, honour in being asked to unveil the tablet, which has been erected to the memory of the men of Moutoa who fought and those who died during the Great War that we might live in peace. In-common with all parts of this Dominion Moutoa gave freely of her sons during the great conflict, and the record of service of this district was a record of which any district, should be proud and one, he felt, sure, they were all proud of that day. Continuing, he said that during the Great War New Zealand raised 110,3(iS troops, of which number 100,444 actually proceeded overseas for service. No less than 18,ICO men were lost at the front, and through the effects of the war and surely this was a great sacrifice for such a young country as New Zealand to make.

They well knew, however, that no monument is necessary to remind Ihe men and women of to-day of the men who left this district, but the erection of the tablet would serve as a fitting reminder to the. children of the Moutoa school and the children of to-morrow.

The speaker urged the children never to forget the sacrifice that those men gave in the defence of the Empire, in order that the liberty of the people should continue. The names of the men who fell in the war were inscribed on the. tablet but their graves are scattered all round the earth and ihe graves of men who have died for their country make a continuous chain of British and Allied soldiers’ graves. These men gave us our freedom,and he impressed upon his hearers I he great need for loyalty to our King and country and traditions, and so keep our great Empire from being disrupted by those who seek its disentregation. Bv so doing we should be true to oar comrades and their sacrifice would not he in vain. Could those men but speak to-day he felt sure their cry would he “We died that you might live “Then live worthily, “Live not for thyself, bill for thy fellowmen, “Thy country and thy God.”

lie expressed admiration for the hoys who left these shores and admiration for Ihe mothers who sent their sons and the nurses who attended the sick and suffering. Mr Linklater then unveiled the memorial to the glory of God and in honour of the men who left New Zealand in defence of King and country.

One minute silence was observed in memory of those who gave their lives.

Mrs S. Barber impressively rendered “The Requiem,” and the “Last Post” was sounded by Bugler B. Walls.

At the close of the ceremony the chairman (Mr Verity) of the School Committee, gave an interesting address on how the funds towards this memorial were raised, and thanked Mr Linklater and visitors for their presence and assistance. A ladies’ committee then dispensed refreshments to all present.

The singing was lead by the school children, who showed that they had been well trained by their headmaster (Mr J. Aitken), and Mrs T. Davey ably assisted at the piano.

A rather humorous incident occurred after the ceremony at Moutoa on Monday, when someone'- called on the’Member lor the District- (Mr J. Linklater) to give the gathering a haka. Mr Linklater was somewhat taken back by the jocular request, but said he had never “funked” a thing yet and gave them a war cry that was used by the Sixth Contingent during the Boer War:

“Tutahi! Ilingatahi! Puritia te Ma11a o te Ivingi. Ake! Ake! Ivia kaha! Ake! Ake! Ivia Kaha! Mi! Hi! Ha!”

“Together we stand, together we fall. Thus upholding the authority of the. King. For ever and ever he brave! For ever and ever be strong.”