WAR MEDALS.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 May 1920, Page 12

WAR MEDALS.

MEMORIALS TO DECEASED. METHOD OF DISTRIBUTION. Now that practically the whole of the N.Z.K.R lias returned to the Dominion it is commonly thought that the work in Base Records OHice, Wellington, is drawing to a close, but this is quite contrary to fact. The oilicer-in-cliarge of that branch of the Defence Department advises that the rolls for the issue of all service medals are now being prepared, and is' throwing heavy work upon the staff. There are the tiles of approximately 100,000 men to bo carefully examined so that a flawless record of their war service may be compiled, and it is not difficult to realise that the task is one that will not be completed for a considerable time. The .first issue, the 1914-15 Star, is now well in hand, and many returned soldiers are already in possession of this medal. The Stars are being released in strictly alphabetical order, first to surviving soldiers, and when this is complete, to the next-of-kin of deceased soldiers. No departure from this rule will be. permitted. In all about 25,f100 Stars are to be issued to New Zealand soldier's. The British war medals and the victory medals have not yet been received from the War Office, London, but pending their arrival the soldiers' service cards are being prepared so that as little delay as possible may occur when the medals come to hand. The regulations governing the issue of all medals to the relatives of deceased soldiers provide that where a will does jnot otherwise dispose of the medals, the following order of next-of-kin shall be observed:—(a) Widow, (b) eldest surviving son, (c) oldest surviving daughter, (d) father, (e) mother, (f) eldest surviving brother, (g) eldest surviving sister, (h) eldest surviving half-brother, (i? eldest surviving half-sister. Bach case not. provided for under the regulations will be decided upon its merits, on the principal that the medal should go to the person best able to preserve it as a memorial to the deceased. It is a part of the training of a soldier that any change of address he may make should be notified at the Base, and as a consequence very little difficulty j has been met with in communicating I with the men- The same cannot be said, however, of the next-of-kin. It is a matter for regret that the next-of-kin of many of our soldiers who fell on the battle fields remain untrnced, and that- photographs of graves and returned effects cannot, be delivered to them. Wliat is to become, of the medals in these cases it is too early to say, 'Our. it is hoped that many will reveal their whereabouts in due course. A larjre number of soldiers, nn joining the forces, did not nominate their legal next-of-kin, but gave the name of a brother, sister, or friend when one or both parents were alive. Obviously this was done to spare their parents the first shock of any official telegram of a distressing nature from tho front, but the practice is one that is creating many difficulties in the issue of medals, etc. ft is not an uncommon thing for a file to give no information regarding blood relations, and relatives of deceased soldiers would be doing the Department a service if they would notify Base Records of the name and address of the legal next-of-kin. MEMORIALS TO DECEASED. It has been decided that a memorial shall be presented to the legal next-of-kin of all those members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force who lost their lives through the war. This memorial is to take the form of a bronze plaque of emblematic design and a parchment scroll with appropriate wording. The plaque, which measures 4Jin in diameter and 1 -Sin in thickness, will bear the deceased's christian names and surname. The scroll, which measures llin by Tin, will b'ear his rank, christian names and surname and regiment. The memorial will be accompanied by a lettor from His Majesty the King. The recipient is to be the blood next-of-kin of the deeeas'ed at the time of distribution of the memorial and there is no question of legal succession to the plaque and scroll. They will not be issued to any legatee under a will in preference to the next-of-kin. The order of next-of-kin is laid down as follows: (a) widow, (b) eldest surviving son, (c) eldest surviving daughter, (d) father, (e) mother, (f) eldest surviving brother, (g) eldest surviving sister, (h) eldest surviving half-brother, (i) eldest surviving imlf-sister, (j) paternal grandfather, (k) paternai grandmother, (1) maternal grandfather, (m) maternal grandmother, (n) eldest surviving nephew, (o) eldest surviving niece, (p) eldest surviving uncle on father's side, (q) eldest surviving aunt on father's side, (r) oldest surviving uncle on mother's side, (s) eldest surviving aunt on mother's side. , In the case of children the memorials will be issued to their guardians to hold in custody. The name to be inscribed upon the plaque is the name under which the soldier attested and this will be strictly adhered to. Many members of the N.Z.E.F., for reasons best known to themselves, joined the army under assumed names. In their cases the plaques and scrolls, which are intended to commemorate the deceased's services in the army, will be issued in the name under which the soldier fought and died. The rolls have been forwarded to New Zealand and are at present being cheeked at Base Records, Wellington. The memorials are to be manufactured in the United Kingdom, and it is anticipated that Hie first shipment will come in two or lln-ee months time. It should not be necessary to point out to the legal next-of-kin of all deceased soldiers the necessity of keeping Base Records advised of liny change of address.