Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954), Saturday 27 July 1901, page 13


LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE

The necessary formalities hann« been completed,

Sir Janies Lee Steere, the. Chairman of the W.A, Fallen Soldiers' * Memorial Committee, delivered the following ad-dress:- ,

"May it please vour Royal Highness, the Committee which have been instru-mental in carrying into, effect the pro-posal which was made to erect a monu-ment as a memorial to the officers and

men of this v State who have lost their lives in the war in South Africa aro very grateful to your Royal Highness for having shown your sympathy with this object by consenting, as your first public act in this State, to lay tile foundation stone of this monument . There is always something very pathetic in such an effort

to commemorate the services of those j who have falleu in battle, but there is

something still more pathetic in the fact, that while we are met together on so | mournful an occasion, we hear of enthusi- j astic receptions and rejoicings over those who have returned safe and sound to \ -their country. But these are only the j fortunes of war. The true soldier andi patriot goes out to fight for his country | with lils life in his band, and he knows ' that whether he returns safely or falls in battle Le is but dobie bis duty, and his career will meet with due recognition from his fellow men. Few who were not present can realise the feeling of patriotic loyalty to the Crown which spread over the whole of Australasia when war was declared against Great Britain by. the South African Republics, and it must ' have been most gratifying to our late la

> inented and beloved Queen, and also to 1 His Most Gracious Majesty the - King, '

ti know that such'loyal and patriotic feelings animated all classes in His I Majesty's Colonial Dominions, anti in-

duced so many to offer their services'in ; I defence of the Emoiré. There i8*o doubt '

that _ this action on the part of ti colonists has tended greatly to cerner the bond of unión with the mother com -try. which, both now and in the futun will, we hope hare important result Prom this State there have been despatcl ^d to the seat of war six contingent comprising, in all, 51 officers and 8G men, with a proportionate number c horses-a larger percentage in proportio to our population than any other Aiy tralian State. Of this number four offi cers and 24 men have been hilled or hav died. Three officers and 68 men of th Imperial Bushmen returned yesterday [ but I am sorry to say that no medal 1 have yet been received for them. Tker

are stili in South Africa 25 officers am 422 men. Of some of tile officers whoo we have lost I should like to make a fev remarks, if your Royal Highness wil permit me. Major Moor, who was ¡ highly capable officer I regret to say, wa killed by an explosive bullee a

Palmertfonteiu. Lieutenant Hensman a . young, man, chowed by hi rapid rise that we had in him a capahh and smart young officer. He was, un fortunately, killed at the battle of Rens burg. The death of Lieut. Forrest, s very young mau. was a pathetic incident in the part Australia took in the war Xittle more than a schoolboy, he eagerlj sought to leave his home and fight foi bis country, and his untimely end hasten ed considerably the death of his father a well-known and respected citizen, whx "had shortly before his death received thc decoration of Companion of St. Michael and St. George. It ie the fortune ol war, hut all lamented the loss of a young man so well known to everybody. He was killed at Vlakfontein. Lieut. Stan-ley Reid was formerly a minister of reli-gion, but. he left hero with the Seeon«! Contingent, being anxious to serve his country. He also, rose rapidly in thc service, and. returned' to Australia. A.« more troops were required, he again offered his services, and went as a lieu-tenant. He was wounded in an engage ment at Reitz, near Carolina, and wa« about to return borne when complication.' eet in, and he died. I don't wish tc make any distinction whatever hetweec officers and men. All have been good soldiers, and havo done their duty. 1 merely make these remarks, as the one< mentioned were so well known jind re-spected by everyone here. I will now ask your Royal Highness tojay the foun-

dation-stone of *tke , memorial we ar« about to raise in ho.iour of those who fell in doing their duty, acct have the honoui to present to your Royj»L Highness tili« trowel, which bas been formed out of s piece of a pom-pom shell, the handle being made from a bayonet." (Cheers.)

His Royal Highness having received the .trowel, amid cheers, walked to thc stone, which was then lowered into posi-

tion.

THE CEREMONY.

His Royal Highness, after having per-formed the necessary duties, said : "I de-clare this stone well and truly laid." (Cheers.)

His Royal Highness then delivered the following Speech :

"Ladies and Gentlemen,lt is a proud satisfaction that one of the fast public acts in which I take part before leav-ing/Australia is to join with you in doing honour to the memory of your fellow coun-trymen who have fallen in the war, and I am sure that I rightly interpret your feel-ings in offering our deepest sympathy to all who have thus lost their deariy loved

j ones.

? " During those anxious days at the dose of 1899 there was nothing more cheering than the eagerness of the citizens of Australia to seethe mother country through the diffi-culties with which she was confronted in South Africa. This determination to take part in the defence »of our great Empire indicated a fresh starting point in your history which so appro-priately coincided with the new political birtH of the Commonwealth. <Cheers.)

" In no portion of the whole Empire was this spirit more enthusiastically manifested than in Western Australia(cheers)-and their deeds have fully justified the praise of a well-known author when he said, 'Throughout the whole African army there was nothing but the utmost admiration for the dash and spirit of the hard riding, straight shooting sons of Australia and New Zealand.

(Cheers.) In a host which held many brave men there were none brayer than they/

(Cheers.) Since the begin-ning of the war a force of more than 900 strong had left your shores, and of these four officers and 24 men, alas! can never return.

"To their memory on this spot will be raised a monu-ment, the first stone of which it has been my privi-lege to lay.

" I should like to see throughout the land memo-rials-no matter how humble in design-bearing the names of those whom they com-memorate, not only as tributes of honour to the individual, but as emblems of patriotism, self-sacrifice and brotherhood, round which in the hour of danger the youth and manhood of succeeding generations might rally in the resolve to follow the noble example of those who have given their all-their lives-for King and country." (Loud cheers.)