BIRD ROAD.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 April 1921, Page 7

BIRD ROAD.

ROLL OF HONOR UNVEILED. There was a big gathering of residents of the district at the Bird Road School Ju Friday afternoon when a memorial to the men of the district who went to the war was unveiled. The memorial is a fine piece of workmanship and occupies a prominent position in front of the school. The inscription is as follows: “For King and Country. Roll of Honor erected by the settlers of Bird and Skinner Roads District in honor of their men who fought in the Great War, 1914-18.” The names inscribed on the roll are as follows: Killed in Action.—Private L. Blackstock, F. P. McCullough, Riflemen A. D. Ellis, E. C. Tichbbn. Died of Sickness.—Gunner G. V. W. Falder, Private W. T. Webb. Returned.—Sergeant-Major A. A. McMullen, Sergeant D. S. McKinley, Corporal W Blackstock, Corporal W. McKinley, Privates E. A. Bonner, F. Doherty, A. J. Garlibk, H Hansen, H. C. A. Neilson, H. A. Neilson, J. D. Rowe, T. E. Bennetts, J. G. Falder, C. Garlick, D. McLeod, N. E. Neilson, D. Quayle, Riflemen A. L. Kivell, W, H. Johnson, E. G. Felton, J. Reynolds, L. E. Hann, S. Reynolds, N. E. McQueen, Troops W. H. Seabright, A. G. L. Lyford, J. R. Willis, G. R. Coleman, Gunner A. W. McLeod.

Mr. J. Pattinson (chairman of the school committee) presided and briefly welcomed the visitors. After the singing of the Nationc.l Anthem, the chairman called on Mr. R. Masters, M.P., to address the gathering. Mr. Masters paid a warm tribute to the manner in which the young men of the Bird and Skinner Roads district had responded to the call, and was pleased to state that the Government intended to do its duty by those who had returned. Mrs. Masters then unveiled the memorial by removing the Union Jack which covered it.

Major Hine, the Rev. J. W. McKenzie (Presbyterian), the Rev. Father Maples (Roman Catholic), Captain Montgomery (Salvation Army) and Mr. C. D. Sole (chairman of the Stratford Hospital Board) also addressed the gathering, each of whom congratulated the district on erecting suh a splendid memorial.

The ceremony concluded with the singing of the National Anthem, following which afternoon tea was dispensed in the school by the ladies of the district.

Mr. J. McAllister, of Stratford, photographed the company standing round the memorial, with the school children at the base. The pnotograph will be valued as a momento of an important event in the district.

Mr. G. E. Mcßeth, the secretary of the committee did much good work towards the success of the function.