GRAVES OF SOLDIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 April 1921, Page 11

GRAVES OF SOLDIERS.

BUBIAI TN DOMINION. CARE BY THE GOVERNMENT. The recommendation of the N.Z.E.F. War Graves Committee, the advisory body to the Government concerning burials in New Zealand, have been approved by the Government, and the administration of the work has been entrusted to the Minister for Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. Downie Stewart. The Government undertakes for all time the care and maintenance of “war graves,” and will have them adorned with monuments that will fittingly honor the memory of the men and the ideals for which they died. In the treatment of graves no distinction between officers and men is to be made.

“War graves” are deemed to be (1) graves of soldiers who died while still serving; (2) graves of members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force dying within twelve months from the date of discharge and whose deaths were due to disabilities contracted in or aggravated by war service; (3) those who died as the result of a war disability after having been continuously under treatment since discharge from the N.Z.E.F. The headstone approved by the Government is to be erected over each grave, and on each will be inscribed the regimental number, name, rank and date of death, together with the New Zealand emblem, the fern leaf. The stones will be of New Zealand granite, measuring 2ft Gin in height, Ift 3in in breadth, and 3in in thickness.

The soldiers’ cemeteries will be similar to those in France and Belgium. Two memorials, “The Great War Cross,” (Cross of Sacrifice) and the “Great War Stone” (Altar of Duty), will be erected in all cemeteries containing not less than 50 war graves. In cemeteries where no special section has been set aside for soldiers’ burials, permanent work will be carried out as circumstances permit. r As there are approximately 1500 war graves in the Dominion the permanent work, including the cutting and erection of the headstones, may not be completed for three years. Meanwhile the temporary crosses will be placed over all unmarked war graves. Four hundred graves have been marked in this way so far, and 150 crosses will be erected at Featherston during the next fortnight. Other cemeteries will receive similar attention as early as possible. When the permanent work is completed photographs of the graves will be sent to relatives.