NEW ZEALANDERS’ GRAVES.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 34, 10 February 1916, Page 8

NEW ZEALANDERS’ GRAVES.

IN EGYPT AND GALLIPOLI

LETTER FROM COL. RHODES

AUCKLAND, February 8

A report regarding the graves of New Zealand soldiers on Gallipoli peninsula and in Egypt has been received by the Minister for Defence from Lieut.-Col. Rhodes.

Writing from Cairo on December 21, Col. Rhodes says that the graves of all those buried in the cemeteries at Cairo, Alexandria ana Mudros 'are very carefully registered, and can be identified at any time. Some of the iron crosses for the graves ‘ are now ready, and will be erected before long. Col. Rhodes intended to obtain photographs of the graves, so that next-of-kin might have a record and, if they desired, arrange for a stone or other memorial to be placed on the graves. Referring to the graves on the peninsula, Col. Rhodes said he had arranged with chaplains to compile a record of all that could be found, and to make sketches of their positions. He mentioned that some of the men had placed sandstone memorials on the graves of their comrades, but most of them were marked only by wccden crosses. On Hill 60, in the fighting in August, Col. Rhodes adds, our men were buried in 'a common trench with the Turks, and there wasno time to identify them before that. Many fell on the hill at Anzac, which we have not yet taken. At Chunuk Bair we lost a great number of men, who, we have every reason to believe are dead, but we have no actual proof. Ccmmenting cn the last paragraph of the report, Mr. Allen said that, as recent casualty lists showed, a Court of Inquiry had been investigating available evidence regarding the men who were reported missing during fhe campaign. As a result, the names of the men believed to be dead were now being telegraphed. Mr. Allen added that he believed all who were prisoners in Turkey had been reported, as information was ob. tained through three sources —the Red Cress, the Red Crescent, 'and the United States representatives.