SACRIFICE IN WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 December 1922, Page 5

SACRIFICE IN WAR.

INGLEWOOD PAYS TRIBUTE. MEMORIAL TABLET UNWILED. A beautiful memorial tablet to the memory of the men from the Inglewood district, who fell during the war, was unveiled in the Inglewood Hall yesterday afternoon by Major-General Sir Edward Chaytor. With the general on the platform were Colonel E. P. Cox, Major A. Leitch, Captains D. E. Bremmer, H. Thompson, Carmine, A. M. McDiarmid, G. Jago and A. Smith, Lieutenants L. Andrews, R. L. Peerless, T. Hopkins, W. Ainsworth, 8. 0. Oliver and C. Purdie. The Ven. Archdeacon Evans was accompanied by Captain - Chaplain R. J. Stanton, the Rev. C. E. Perkins and Rev. W. J. Elliott. In the body of the hall a large number of returned soldiers, many of whom came from New Plymouth, were assembled to do honor to their dead comrades. The Mayor of Inglewood (Mr. J. Sutherland), who presided, welcomed the General, and remarked that when the new church was built the tablet would find a permanent and fitting resting place there.

As the folds of the Union Jack fluttered from the tablet General Chaytor said: “In honored memory of the men from this district who gave their lives in the Great War for King and country, and in the cause of freedom and righteousness, I unveil this Roll of Honor. May the names of these our brethren be held in grateful reverence and may their supreme sacrifice inspire those who come after them to deeds of love and service for their fellow men.” The General said he would like to thank the people for the privilege of being present on such a worthy occasion. He was glad they had erected this memorial, for, besides commemorating brave deeds, it served to remind them that they were now enabled to live in peace and security. Most of them knew the dangers and perils the men endured, but it was significant that while stories of good times were recounted little was said of the terrible days of actual fighting. Soldiers remembered their comrades and their good times together, but he thought the memorial would help them not to remember too much.

The tablet before them was only a small thing. They had only to look round the peaceful district to see the real memorial, a happy and contented land. Therefore, every day they should remember and be grateful to those men, for a feeling of gratitude should be apparent as well as memories. The country had done much for the men who had been lost through the war. It had educated the children and extended facilities in other directions, but it wa« to be remembered that many men who were working now might not be able to iater on, because of injuries received during the war. That was also a memorial. War was a terrible thing. Please God, the nations would get together to avoid future wars. He hardly thought wars should be stopped altogether, but much could be done to avoid open bloodshed again. It was a wonderful thing when a man deliberately gave his life for his fellows; deliberately, not in the heat of action, but calmly and with previous resolution. Ona important lesson to be learned was that while fighting for the same end the soldiers sunk all differences in the furtherance of the common cause, and if people of to-day could only do that they would be doing a great deal to lessen the chances of another war. Young men had great opportunities, and he hoped they would tackle their problems as their fathers did during the war. Archdeacon Evans then dedicated the tablet saying: “In the name of the Sacred Trinitv and in the fgjth of our Lord Jesus Christ, we dedicate this memorial to the memory of our brothers from this district who laid down their lives for King and Empire in the Great War. May their great sacrifice prove a glorious incentive to succeeding generations to do their duty in protecting that freedom for which our brothers died.” The congregation remained standing while Bugler Lovell, of Inglewood, sounded the Last Post. The Roll of Honor is in the form ot a marble tablet. In the centre at the top the Union Jack is crossed with the New Zealand Eueign over a garland ot laurels. Down each side two scrolls l>ear the names France, Belgium, Gallipoli Egypt, Palestine and Mesopotamia. The’ names of the fallen appeared m the Daily News on November 24.