Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), Wednesday 16 November 1921, page 4


A WAR MEMORIAL

UNVEILED AT MURGON.

[By Our Special Representative]

At Murgon on Sunday last there was a very impressive ceremony of remembrance, the unveiling of the memorial erected by the residents in honour of the soldiers from the district who gave their lives in the Great War. This memorial is in the form of a marble base and pedestal, with the figure of an Australian soldier sur-mounting the whole. The work generally

is in marble, the figure in gleaming white Carrara, the effect being very fine indeed. The memorial was designed and carried out by J. Lowther and Sons, of Brisbane, and the figure was carved from a solid block of the Italian marble imported specially for such a purpose. The people of Murgon township and district took up very earnestly the task of providing their token of remembrance and appreciation, and it is characteristic of the district that after paying all expenses in connection with the beautiful tribute to the lads who

have "gone West " there is a balance of over £50 in hand to provide for railings

round the base.

The memorial is in a conspicuous place in the main square of the town, and on Sunday there was a very large gathering to witness the unveiling. To perform this duty, the Repatriation and Memorial Committee invited the president of the Returned Sailors' and Soldiers' Imperial League, Major-General Spencer Browne. To speak also on the occasion,

the committee had invited Major Chaplain Mackenzie, M.C., "Fighting Mac,'' the popular Colonel of the Salvation Army. Amongst other visitors was a contingent from Gympie, consisting of Colonel D. E.

Reid, D.S.O., V.D., Major Birkbeck, D.S.O., Lieutenant George Walker, and (Sergeant George Barnes. Officially representing the people of Murgon were Warrant Officer J. A. Heading, D.C.M., M.M., chairman of the Murgon Shire

Council, Mr. F. W. Caswell, chairman of the Repatriation and Memorial Com-mittee, and the Hon, secretary, Sergeant H. W. Sanderson. It was decided by the committee, in view of the number of the returned sailors and soldiers in the district, to make the occasion military, and about 40 men paraded in uniform. The marshal of the procession was Police Sergeant Christie, assistant marshal, Ser-geant G. Young, officer commanding the guard, Captain A. H. Caswell, sergeant of the guard, Sergeant A. Waldock, corporal of the guard, Corporal N. W. Smyth,

officer with veterans, Lieutenant Geo. Walker, standard bearer, Private J. Petersen, and A.D.C. to Major-General Browne, Lietenant J. S. Kennedy.

The procession, headed by the Murgon Band under Bandmaster Perkins, moved

from the Shire ofiice along Macalisterstreet and Lamb street, and back to themonument, monument, the salute being taken at the Post Office. On forming up at the memorial, the band played the hymn "Lead, Kindly Light," the unveiling was performed, and the guard presented and reversed arms, and the flags were lowered. The names inscribed on the front of the pedestal were read out-35 names in all, and in three cases families were repre-sented each by two gallant dead. The band played the Dead March from "Saul," and the "Last Post' rang out over the town. It was a solemn moment, and was followed by the placing of wreaths upon the steps of the pedestal, which were covered with beautiful floral dis-

plays in official cases, and in others by a few homely, beautiful flowers.

Addresses were then given by General Browne and Colonel Mackenzie, and the chairman of the Repatriation and Memorial Committee (Mr. Caswell) handed the monument formally to the keeping of the Shire Council as repre-

sented by the chairman, Mr. Heading, who in a few soldierly words accepted, on behalf of the council, the trust. "God Save the King" brought to a close a simple, impressive, and splendidly

organised ceremony, and the very large number of spectators dispersed-all save a few who lingered with dimmed eyes but proud hearts to note the names of those whom they had given for "King and Country; for liberty and right."

In the evening a very delightful sacred

concert was given in the School of Arts hall, and the chairman, Mr. Heading, after a few speeches, was able to announce the splendid result of an appeal by Colonel Mackenzie for funds to cover the balance required for the memorial. A feature of the whole proceedings was the

warm interest taken by the people of Murgon in the provision of a tribute to the lads who had so unselfishly served, who

had so bravely fought, and who made the supreme sacrifice as true Australians, and

as true Britishers.