Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), Wednesday 26 April 1922, page 8


SOUTHPORT WAR MEMORIAL

THE UNVEILING CEREMONY.

SOUTHPORT, April 25.

The war memorial erected by the resi-dents of Southport and distsrict was un-veiled this afternoon by (Mr. J. C. Appel, M.L.A., in the presence of the largest gathering which has ever been seen in Southport. The site of the monument, which stands 18ft. high, and is built of Helidon freestone, is at the foot of Nerang-street. Four marble tablets, com-prising the four sides of the base, are inscribed with the names of the men who enlisted from Southport and districts. The front tablet is reserved lor those who made the supreme sacrifice. The base is surmounted by the figure of a soldier. The monument is flanked by two guns which were presented as war trophies to the Southport Council. The returned soldiers of the town, together with the Citizen, Forces and school children, fell in at tbe Town Hall, and marched to the site. The hymn, "Nearer, "My God, to Thee," was played by the Southport Band, and sung by the Southport Choral Society. When unveiling thp monument Mr. Appel said that on that day they were commemorating the greatest of all days, when Australia's sons on Gal-hpoli gave their lives, and built up an Australian nation. Whether in Gallipoli, Egypt, Palestine, or the shot-ridden fields of France, the Australians had proved themselves men, and had done their duty. In the future, when the Great War was forgotten, tina monument would remind future generations that their fathers and grandfathers had done their duty. A number of wreaths were placed on the monument, including a laurel wreath from the R.S.S.I.L.A. The ceremony concluded with the singing of "Abide, Wjth Me" and "God Save, the King."