CONSUL’S GRAVE.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 393, 27 March 1937, Page 3

CONSUL’S GRAVE.

Badge for Headstone. After the funeral of the late Major Mario Dessaules, who was Consul for Italy in New Zealand until his death on October 29, last year, the Wellington Returned Soldiers’ Association| decided to erect a headstone over his grave in keeping with the headstones over the other graves in the Soldiers’ Cemetery, Karori. It was the intention of the association to mark the headstone with the Italian national coat of arms, but as only regimental badges are permitted on the headstones this could not be done. Accordingly, the Internal Affairs Department was asked to secure a copy of the appropriate badge so that the headstone could be prepared. The High Commissioner for New Zealand in London was communicated with, but so far the necessary information has not been received. The secretary of the association stated that it was the intention of his executive to erect the headstone as soon as the badge could be carved upon it, and an official of the Internal Affairs Department said that the badge should arrive in New Zealand at any time. The High Commissioner had been communicated with shortly after the funeral, but his office would have to refer the matter to the Imperial War Graves Commission and that body would have to communicate with its committee in Italy. Consequently the forwarding of the badge would take some months. Major Dessaules was officer in charge of the machine-gun corps of the Leonessa Infantry Division dur- , ing the Great War, and was buried with full military honours last year, prominent military and civil persons, as well as many Italian residents of New Zealand, attending at the graveside.