ROLL OF HONOR.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 October 1921, Page 7

ROLL OF HONOR.

OBELISK AT TE KIRI. THE UNVEILING CEREMONY. A granite obelisk, erected in memory of fallen soldiers from the Te Kiri district, was unveiled by Mr. O. Hawken, M.P., on Sunday last, when there was a large attendance of the public. The ceremony was presided over by Mr. F. Tindle. The Rev. Avery, in the course of .an eloquent prayer, said the spirit of loving devotion which sought to commemorate the work of those beloved who had passed into the presence of God had found expression in the erection of the monument to their memory. Mr. J. S. Tosland said that when war broke out in 1914 New Zealand was not slow in going to assist the Empire. The Te Kiri district was not behind other places in the Dominion, and the men who had fallen had worthily upheld the traditions of the Empire. They were men to be proud of. Mr. C. H. Hurst said the sacrifice the boys had made was well worth while. They had done their duty well, and there should be no sadness. The memorial should always remind the people of the unselfishness of those who had made the great sacrifice for their country. Mr. Hawken said he felt honored in being asked to unveil the memorial to the sons of parents assembled. They had shown the true spirit of self-sacrifice and had performed deeds worthy of commemoration. In these difficult times, concluded Mr. Hawken, we must do our part in the same spirit of loyalty as shown by the soldjers.

Mr. Hawken then unveiled the monument, and in doing so said it was only a symbol—one way of remembering what the boys had done. The memory of their deeds and sacrifices would last as long as the stars endure.

The “Last Post” was sounded by Bugler Geard, and a firing party under SergeantMajor Parkinson fired the last salute. The inscription on the monument reads: “For Freedom’s Cause—Dedicated by the people of Te Kiri to the memory of those Te Kiri boys who made the supreme sacrifice in the Great War, 1914—1918. ‘Live thou for New Zealand ; we for New Zealand died.’ ”

The roll of honor inscribed includes: Sergeant C. J. Hurst, Lance-Corporal R. Mawhinney, and Privates J. P. Ewen, E. J. Fryday, S. Gilbert, A. Simpson, G. W, Tindle. J, W. Coupe and Driver L. W. Hawton.