SOUTH AFRICAN MEMORIAL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 224, 27 January 1911, Page 3

SOUTH AFRICAN MEMORIAL

1 USVEILIXO CEREMONY. i Just on the stroke of noon vest-rday ', his Excellency performed the interesting I ceremony of unveiling the memorial fountain on Marshnd Hill io the trooptrs who fell in the South African war. There was a fairly large number of people present to witness the ceremony. His Excellency, who was accompanied by Cap'.aiu Shannon, A D.C., and the Mayor (Mr. G. Tisch), was received at the dais which was erected alongside the fountain, by Mr. E. Dockrill (chairman of the Memorial Committee) and other members of the committee. On the dais were several relatives of troopers whose names appear on the memorial. Mr. U. Okey, M.P., was a'.so present. Apologies for absence had been received from Sir Joseph Ward and from Mr. YV. T. Jennings, M..P,, also from parents of Troopers L. E. Smith, Wiggins and, Paterson. A guard of honor, 84 strong, was furnished by the Taranak! Rifles and Taranaki Guards, with Captain W. H. Fletcher in command. The battalion staff was represented by Chaplain-Major F. G. Evans, and by Quartermaster Captain Cock. The Garrison Band paraded under Bandmaster Cummins. Between 70 and 80 veterans paraded, under Colonel Ellis. The veterans' muster included the following men who had fought in South Africa:—Sergt.-Major Forbes (6th and 10th Contingents), Sergt. Morrin (sth Contingent), Scrgt. F. Bowles (East Kent Regiment), Private T. Yeoman (Norfolk Regiment), and Privates T. Richardson and F. Bird (3rd Contingent), A. Lister (sth Contingent), P. C. Gill (Queen's Scarf), P. Fahey (6th Contingent), and J. Clarke and Geo. Martin (Uth Contingent). There were 30 cadets on parade, under Major Sandford and Captain-Ad-jutant Johnion.

Mr. E. Dockrill thanked his Excellency, on behalf of the relatives and comrades-in-arms ot those who had fallen in the South African war, and also' on behalf of the committee and the public, for his presence. At the commencement of the Boer war, he said, it was unfortunate that the British Army were not in the ascendant. They met with defeat after defeat, and the very manhood and the womanhood of New Zealand were stirred to their deepest. The Government was not slow to gauge the position, and offered a contingent. This offer was accepted, and our own men were the first of the colonial forces to arrive at the seat of war. Contingent after contingent went, until between 9000 and 10,000 New Zealanders had been sent to South Africa to help in upholding the British cause. Mr. Dockrill emphasised the fact that all classes of the community were represented in the rank and file of the contingents. How the men had conducted themselves was now a matter of history. Every general officer under whom they had served had passed encomiums upon them, and consequently we had every reason to be proud of them. So numerous were the applications for every contingent that in the end many men had to be ballotted out, although they had passed every test of service, to bring 1 the contingents down to the required strength. Of the work of the New Zealanders in the field, Mr. Dockrill instanced the memorable fights at New Zealand Hill and J3othasberg, and recalled Lord Kitchener's words, fn» which the great soldier said the New Zealanders were an honor to the country and the people they represented. The monument was not erected for the purpose of gloating over a brave and generous foe, who had become our fellowsubjects, and whom lie believed to be as loyal to the King and the Empire, but to impress on those who would succeed us that if urcat Britain were attacked it was our duty to follow in the footsteps of those brave patriots and gallant men, and uphold the Empire. It was meant as a memento for all time of the gallant fellows and as a guide to the people of their day. After eulogising the excellent work of the contractor for the monument, Mr. Dockrill asked his Excelt lency to unveil it.

His Excellency replied in an eloquent speech. He was very glad, he said, of the opportunity afforded him to pay this his first official visit to New Plymouth, and to be able to associate himself with the citizens in this important and interesting ceremony. The South African war would stand out for all time as a great landmark in the history of the British Empire. Among its most significant aspects there was none more striking than the fact that for the first time in history the whole of the British Empire had fallen into line in defence of its own destiny. Among the representatives of the loyal States who co-operated in the defence of the Empire there were none more patriotic, none that fought with more valor and distinction, than the troops who left New Zealand. The inevitable and inexorable penalty that ha? to be paid by some of those who take an active and a patriotic part in the Empire's cause had been paid by those gallant men whose names appeared on this monument, the men whose gallant efforts the people of New Plymouth, in tkeir appreciation, wore desirous of signalising by this ceremony inaugurating the monument. New Plymouth had sent a generous share to the New Zealand forces, and had most properly determined to commemorate those who'fell and sacrificed their lives for their Empire's welfare, to commemorate them so that they would be remembered and honored through posterity. They had dedicated their lives to their country's welfare, and no words, however deep they came from the heart, could add anything to this dedication. This memorial, his Excellency hoped, would stand for all time, and ever be regarded as a sacred token of admiration and gratitude for splendid services rendered by gallant and patriotic men to their country. They had given all that mortal man could give, and for the highest cause —they had laid down their lives for their Empire's welfare. (Hear, hear). Those who were gathered here that day had been privileged to live and see, beyond the extent of the most sanguine expectations, the realisation of the great effort to which these gallant men made their supreme sacrifice. We had lived to see the transformation of South Africa from a country distraught with bitter racial enmity into a country united under one ilag and one King in the great British Imperial system. It had been said, and, he thought, with truth, that never before within the history of nations or of empires had reparation succeeded reprisal after reprisal with swifter, surer rapidity or with a surer prospect of lasting than in South Africa. Had we not. every reason to hope and to anticipate that the sacrifice of the many gallant lives on both sides, both Boer and British, had laid the foundation of a sure and lasting future for both races established and per-' petuated in one united people under one Government with one King? This memorial would stand not only as a token of past services gallantly rendered, but it would also stand in this conspicuous spot, overlooking the town, as an inspiration and an inlluence to future generations. (Hear, hear). Each year as the town advanced—and he confidently anticipated a considerable advance for this splendid Dominion—this 'monument would be there to keep the people to live up to the traditions that had been built up in this fair land. His Excellency pointed out that local patriotism Iwas recognised elsewhere, and that what interested New 'Zealand interested the British Empire, and what interested the

livitish Empire interested Xcw Zealand, lie dwelt iiiion tin; grand ideals of the Empire, lh<> ideals in th« service of which lllose men had lain down their . lives, (lie men ivho-e brave deeds Here (■.'"in:.' to he perpetuated. He ventured to say that it was through and hv means 'of tliese ideals t.liut Xew Z".ilutnl could he strengthened and the stability of the British Kmpire maintained am) handed on. If so, and he was one of those who confidently anticipated it, those who today still mourned the; loss of sous or brothers who had fallen in South Africa could console themselves with the belief and knowledge that these brave men did not die in vain. (Loud applause). Cheers were given for his Excellency on unveiling the memorial, and the water was turned on at the fountain. The inspection of the veterans (in whom his Excellency upper.red to take great interest), of the troops and the cadets occupied some time before the proceedings ended.