FALLEN GUARDSMEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 493, 24 October 1928, Page 9

FALLEN GUARDSMEN

GRANITE CROSS UNVEILED FIERCE FIGHTING ON SOMME British Official Wireless RUGBY, Monday. The granite cross which has been erected at Les Boeufs. on the Somme place of the wooden cross placed there after the battlesof Les Boeufs and Ginchv in September, 1916. in memory of the fallen of the Guards division, was unveiled to-day in the presence of 130 officers and men of that division. Major-General Sir Geoffrey Fielding, who commanded the division in the Somme battles, recalled the history of the lighting in that sector. He laid emphiis upon the terrible nature of the battles owing to the gigantic defence works which the Germans had built up. He said 230 officers and 3.000 guardsmen had died. At the conclusion of the ceremony the Mayor of Ginchy accepted the memorial on behalf of his community. The Rev Patrick McCormick, rector of St. Martins-in-the Field, London, blessed the memorial. The Earl of Cavan laid a wreath on the cross on behalf of King George. Other wreaths were deposited by Lieutenant-Colonel Lathom on behalf of the Prince of ’Wales, by Colonel Seymour for the Duke of Connaught, and by officers of each of the Guards’ regiments.