DOWNPATRICK, Co. Down.

Under a blue sky, the air crisp and invigorating, on Thursday evening Lord Bangor, in the presence of a great concourse of people, unveiled the monu­ment, inscribed as above, occupying in a sylvan setting a commanding position adjoining the Downpatrick cricket field at the angle of the Belfast and Strangford roads. It is 20ft. high, and was de­signed and executed by Messrs S. and T. Hastings. Three broad steps lead to a roomy landing, on which the monument is erected. The massive pedestal and enclosing low walls are of Irish granite, rock-faced. Immediately underneath the inscrip­tion panel, carved in relief, are festooned sprays of laurel, symbolising victory. On the pedestal stands the figure of a Rifleman, of heroic size, ad­mirably sculptured in Portland stone by Mr T. Hastings himself, an artist who since the war has done much fine work of this kind. The figure is impressive in every detail, as well as in poise and outlook. Altogether the monument in its strength and simplicity appeals to the imagination. It speaks to the living, as it will speak to the genera­tions to come, of great historic hours and of men’s virtues and sacrifices.

The arrangements for Thursday’s ceremony were carried out by a committee, of whom Col. Wallace, C.B., is chairman, and Mr W. A. Martin, secretary, and the committee were ably assisted by Mr A. J. H. Coulter. A column of ex-servicemen, headed by Major Pilson, D.S.O., and then a constabulary guard of honour, under the command of County-Inspector M’Nally, with whom were District-Inspector Dudgeon and Major Ker, county com­mandant of special constabulary, marched from English Street, to the music of the band of the Sherwood Foresters from Ballykinlar. Separate positions were assigned to relatives of the dead, the Urban Council, and Girl Guides under the charge of Mrs Pooler. Military buglers were posted on the steps of the monument. Colonel Wallace pre­sided, and among others present were Colonel Sharman-Crawford, D.L., and Colonel Perceval-Maxwell, D.S.O. The proceedings were opened with prayer by Rev. F. T. Parker.

The Chairman spoke of the monument as a slight tribute of gratitude and lasting remembrance. It was not for him or any one to praise the men, to extol their deeds, their valour, their love, their patriotism. That would be to try to gild the finest gold.   In the words of our Master,

 ‘Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’

Hearty thanks were due to Lord Dunleath, pro­prietor of Downpatrick and the Demesne of Down, for presenting the site for the memorial; to the C.O. and officers of the 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters for sending the band and buglers; and last, but not least, to Lord Bangor for coming to take the chief part in the ceremony that evening. It only remained for him now formally to hand over the memorial to the trustees representing the people, to care for and guard in future days.

Rev. J. Begg read a portion of Scripture.

The Dean of Down said that the memorial was placed in a prominent situation that the men who fell in the war might be constantly in remembrance, and that all might see we had not forgotten them, but would for ever remember them with pride. Let us ask ourselves (he continued), What does this memorial stand for? What is its message to those who pass by? With what voice does it speak? It tells us at least one great and abiding fact, that there are things that brave men hold dearer than life itself-such things as religion, liberty, country, and home. When in the early days of August 1914, these things were threatened, and the call came to defend them, men were found in abund­ance who responded to the call, and were not afraid to face death that these things might be secure for the world. A Greek poet wrote the epitaph of the men who fell at Thermopylae .-