INFORMATIVE LECTURE

Southland Times, Issue 21097, 31 May 1930, Page 3

INFORMATIVE LECTURE

SCOTLAND’S WAR MEMORIAL.

ST. ANDREW’S SOCIETY GATHERING.

Members of St. Andrew’s Scottish Society gathered in large numbers in Smith s Hall last evening to hear an instructive lecture on Scotland's National War Memorial delivered by the Rev. H. D. McEwan, of Edendale. Mr McEwan illustrated his address with excellent lantern slides, and before he commenced a short programme of dancing, recitations, violin selections and singing was given. The Chief (Mr J. L. McG. Watson), said that the present month, May, was famous in Scottish history. The Order of the Thistle was founded in May, and it was in May, 1707, that Scotland united with England. Were he giving a lecture he would put the thistle first, then the bagpipes, the heather and porridge. He would not be on the platform that night but for the fact that he was brought up on porridge. Here at the end of the earth in the most southern city of the Empire, they were thinking of changing the name. What would the pioneers think of it? Mr McEwan said that it was -with some pride as a Scot himself, that he spoke of Scotland’s War Memorial. The phenomenal success which had attended its completion should make them proud. When the people of London had wanted to commemorate their dead, the famous designer, Sir Edward Lutyens, was consulted, and he designed the Cenotaph. That suited the Englishmen’s needs. Scotsmen all over the world had contributed to their memorial. A number of prominent Scots had conceived the idea of Edinburgh Castle as a site. The memorial was completed in 1927. The designer (Sir Robert Lorimer), had shown genius in that he had so made the memorial that it was visible from all over Edinburgh. With the use of slides the lecturer showed how renewals had been made inside the castle. He said that taking the building at a glance one could see its beauty and grandeur. Around the walls were niches containing figures and fixed on the walls were the badges of various regiments, divisions and corps. Attached to the outside of the wall of the shrine was Scotland’s Coat of Arms supported by angels. Women had been employed in the work, and it was a woman who had created the Coat of Arms. When the memorial was designed Scotsmen had insisted that the exterior should be the same design as St. Margaret's chapel, on the site of which it stood.

Above the entrance to the building continued the lecturer, was a statue representing mankind rising from the evil of war into peace. In the memorial there was no glorifying of war. The Hall of Honour was for remembrance, the shrine was for deeper emotions. The dominions were also represented in the shrine. Concluding, Mr McEwan said that before conscription was instituted Scots had enlisted in the percentage of 13. The highest in England and Wales was 10. In the memorial was also parts dedicated to animals which had been used for transport in the Great War. Sparrows and mice were also represented. During the war they had been used in the detection of poisonous gases. It was the Scotsmen’s idea of giving honour where honour was due.