HONORING OUR SOLDIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 June 1917, Page 7

HONORING OUR SOLDIERS.

IvATMA'I'A ROLL OF HON?)R. 1 IV MREWELL OF OLD SETTLERS. ) _ a J The Kaimata district, in common with ® other parts bf Taranald, has responded nobly to the Empire's call. Up to the ? present no less than 34 men, have left 1 the district. 'Some, unfortunately, have J heroically made the supreme sacrifice. That settlers of the district appreciate c their action was manifest by the crowd- ) ed audience of settlors frpm Kaimata, T Bristol Soad, and Waitui, and also from Inglewood, that assembled at the Kai- 11 mata Hall on Friday night for the un- c veiling of a roll of honor containing J the names of all the lads who have gone, and which was presented to the hall 2 trustees by the parents. The settlers 1 also farowellcd Private Geo. Morgan, of I the 28t,h Reinforcements, who mas home ? on final leave, and also his mother and J sister, who have sold their farm and f are going to reside in New Plymouth, after residing in Kaimata for 25 ycaTS. The hall was gaily beflagged, and was J specially lighted by Mr. Newton King , with Alpha gas for the occasion. a Dancing was the main feature of the 8 Jounger people's entertainment, and the c floor was crowded. Mr. Geo. Lister was J M.C., and there was no dearth of musicians, who were Misses Ruby Jones, J Gladys Williams and Mr. J. Sutherland (piano), Miss Greta Williams (violin), c Messrs Egarr (piccolo), and J. \ Wilson s (piano). For the elder people there was J seating accommodation on the stage, and J this was taxed to the utmost. They ' passed the time with story and reminiscences, ibeing entertained by the singing 1 of two popular Inglewood performers, who wero both in good voice. Miss Laing sang "The Broken Doll," "Laddie in Khaki," "Flower of My Heart," and "Lincoln's Inn"; Mr. R. Darlow sang, "Till the Sands of the Desert Grow i Cold," "The Admiral's Broom," and "My Land," Mr. J. Sutherland accompanying, i THE UNVEILING. Mr. Geo. Capper, chairman, before supper drew attention to the objects of the gathering. It was felt that those who stopped behind could not do too much to honor those who had gone, some having/made the supreme sacrifice, The local Patriotic Trustees had felt that the least they could do was ot have a Roll of Honor engraved and placed in the hall, and it would be surrounded with the photographs of the men who had gone, winch would be frained by the committee. Other .names would bo added as the men left. He explained that one name had 'been omitted, but would be added when particulars were obtained. He then called on Mr. Arthur Morton to perform the ceremony. Mr. Morton, in a graceful speech, said that when the call of the Empire went forth it seemed a long way from New Zealand, and particularly from Kaimata, to at that time Egypt, and afterwards to France. It was the first time that such a call had been made in such a manner for men,to take part in tho Empire's battles, and from all parts of the Empire it had met with a noble response. Kaimata also had responded well. From the earliest the settlers urged all who could ; be spared, and few needed urging, to take their part and shoulder the burden the Empire had asked them to carry. Some who had left Kaimata had gone through practically the whole of the struggle, first on the burning sands of Egypt, next doing their duty on the barren shores and cliffs of Gallipoli, and he pointed to a photograph showing historic Anzac Bay, which would never be forgotten' in the history of the British Empire. The action of the New Zealanders there had ' been admitted by competent authorities to have been practically unparalleled in ' history. Young men, from a country i whose people were not accustomed to war, and after very few montts' preparation, were aßked to take a share in what would have caused old warriors to shudder and falter. But there was I no faltering when the New Zealanders i were asked to take a part in an under- [ taking of the difficulties of Which they had no knowledge. They responded pobly. They landed in the face of unparalleled difficulties, against an enemy who had had several months' notice and was prepared against the landing, and had strong fortifications that had been built on tlio advice .of the best British engineers. They had, despite all this, effected a landing and had held on as long as they were required, and he felt : assured that if they had been asked to go forth and drive the Turks back to Constantinople it would have been done. However, the authorities ordered them elsewhere, and we found the same indorr.itablo pluck elsewhere. From Gallipoli they took their place alongside the flower of the British army, fighting in what was known as the cockpjfc of Europe, and here during the past two years they had again shown the world that the New Zealanders and Australians could do what any army of the past had done. 'During the past fortnight, 0 too, their feat at Messines, as described by Field-Marshal Sir Douglas flaig, was almost an unparalleled' feat of arms. The mounted men in Egypt, though their work was not so brilliant and they were not so much in the public eye, were doing their duty as nobly as though they wero in France, and under more arduous climatic conditions. They had all more or less felt it an honor to take a part in the war. if not in person, at least in spirit, and never forgot that their dear ones were bearing arms, shedding their blood, and sacrificing their lives in order that we might live_ in a free and prosperous country and enjoy that liberty that always goes whore the British flag flies. Many of the young men who had gone ha,d no idea of the undertaking. Some had probably gone in the first place from a spirit of adventure, but later from a sense of duty, and the responses to-day were as great as ever. We were still sending 2500 men each month, so that should our men be unable to take their place in the field, there would be thousands more equipped to take their place. All honor was due to the men who had sacrificed positions and parted from friends, not for glory, but for honor and that love of liberty that pervades every subject of the British Empire. He did not think any district could show too much honor to'the men who were prepared to give their lives. This was the first occasion that he had seen the roll of honor, and ho did not know what names were on, but he felt sure tlmt very few families in the district were not represßnted. Some had returned incapacitated, either | by the act of tho enemy, by sickness, or other cause. They had done their duty 1 as far as they could. Others had not

yet gone, owing to .being under age or Aiiiu: ji .ilie Becond division, but when

they went they would do their duty. Some whose names -were upop the roll bad suffered for us that we might have liberty, some to such an extent that we will never see them more. All honor iwias due to those whose names were on the roll. When the day came that peace was declared, and our brave young men returned, he hoped they would be given all honor. He felt sure that when the men came back, unable through wounds or incapacity to look after themselves, tho country would look after them, and would not consider it a burden or charity, but cheerfully undertake to provide sufficient to keep them in comfort for Isie rest of their Hves. Daily we were called on to' make sacrifices, and if the war lasted much longer we would have to make greater sacrifices. No one questioned that these sacrifices were necessary, and they would foe made cheerfully with the knowledge of the righteousness of the cause. Might at times was right, and in this case might and right would triumph in the end. Britain was always slow to move where warfare was concerned, but they would find Britain win in the end. An Indian tribe had a saying, "The patience of the British is as long as a summer's day, •but the arm of tho British law is as long as a winter night." Britain might be sjow to move and might lose at first, but the arm of Britain was long, 'and Britain had triumphed, as, he hoped, she always would. No doubt when peace came there would be many scars that only time could heal, but he hoped and trusted that an all-seeing Father in his wise dispensation would soften the blow, lie then unveiled the roll of honor and dedicated it to the hall. Mr. Geo. Capper handed the key to Mr. Geo. Peters, chairman of the hall trustees, who, in acknowledgment, said that the trustees felt honored at the trust imposed on them. They would carefully guard the roll of honor. Mr. Darlow then sang the Russian, French, and English national anthems. THE ROLL OP HONOR.' The roll of honor is of neat and chaste design, being designed and made by Mr. LDe Launay, of Inglewood. The names are in gilt on a dark wooden tablet set between two massive turned columns, mounted on a neat base and surmounted by a nicely designed pediment. It is inclosed in a glass case, and contains the following names:— Sergeant <T. Capper, Main Body; Privates W. R. 'Bracegirdle, O. S. Blackburn, C. S. Nicholson (killed), Lord Liverpool's Owa; Privates H. Old, A. W. Klenner (wounded, returned), R. Symes, 7tn Reinforcements; Privates J. lilenner, F. H. Klenner, Bth Reinforcements; Drivers 0. S. Weston, L. V. Russell, W. Russell (killedj, Private A. E. Bracegirdle, 9th Reinforcements; Corporal H. A. Old, Privates J. R. Inglis, E. Wallace, A. E. Russell (invalided home), 10th Reinforcements; Privates F. Mulier, E. Old, A. P. Burlchart (killed), 11th Reinforcements; Privates C. D. Julian, L. T, Potroz, 13th LanceCorporal R. Jones, Privates T. J. Potroz, Driver A. Mulier, 14th Reinforcements; Privates G. Capper, A. Taylor, L. R. Ward, 17th Reinforcements; Private R. C. Weston, 18th Reinforcements; Private T. W r allace, 19th Reinforcements; Privates L. Mulier, G. W. Potroz, J. L. Dunwoodie, 20th Reinforcements; G. Morgan, 28th, Reinforcements. THE PRESENTATIONS. • Mr. Capper then apologised for the absence of Mr. H. J. Okey, M.P., who was looking after the district in the interest of Captain Hine, M.P., and who had promised to make the presentation; and also for Air. ICidd, manager of the Co-operative Society's branch, He stated that during their 25 years' residence , in Kaimata the Mofgan family had al- , ways done their share to help the dis- | trict along, and no one could wish for , better neighbors. Ho regretted their departure from the district, but this was | due to Private George Morgan having L been called up, and as there was no , one to manage the farm it had to be , sold. On behalf of the settlers of Wai- . tui, Kaimata, and Bristol Road, he pret sented Mrs. Morgan with a solid silver , tea service and Miss Morgan with a . silver-backed Ibrush, comb, and mirror, j both presentations being suitably in- . scribed. '

Mr. Jas. Hunter, of Waitui, presented Private Geo. Morgan with a wristlet watch, which was fastened on by Mrs. John Hopson, the recipient's sister. Mr. Hunter, in a brief speech, referring to the help given by Mr. Morgan to the district, said that all settlers at the back wero welcome to put their cattle in Mr. Morgan's paddock when driving to and from the sales.

Private Geo. Morgan expressed his thanks for the kindly thoughts and, expressions of his fellow settlers. Mr. :W. Morgan, of Canterbury, expressed the family's appreciation of the splendid presentation made to his mother and sister. The fact that such a presents ation had been made, when all had so many calls on their purses, testified to tho esteem in which his mother and sister wero held by the residents, and they would appreciate it accordingly. The recipients were accorded musical honors.

A bounteous supper was dispensed during the evening. At the conclusion Mr. Geo. Capper expressed the thanks of the committee to Mr. Morton and all who had in any way assisted in the success of the evening. The committee responsible for the evening's arrangements were Mesdames Bur.vell and Jones, Messrs Geo. Capper (chairman)', J. R. Jones (secretary), Kaimata; and Messrs S. Fagan and il'cKinder, Waitui.