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Stepping Stones to the Solomons: the unofficial history of the 29th Battalion with the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Pacific.

Chapter Eight — Church Of Remembrance

page 70

Chapter Eight
Church Of Remembrance

Back from the beach at Falamai, opposite where the right flank of the attack landed, stands a little thatched church. In the porch a carved wooden tablet bears the names of all those, American and New Zealand, who fell in the action. The church is a tribute to these and an offering to the natives, whose own church at Falamai was used by the Japanese as an ammunition store and was blown up by a Japanese mortar bomb during the first torrid hours.

Things slowly settled down after the action. Thoughts turned to raising the church again, as a memorial to the battalion dead. The church was to be non-denominational as long as the battalion remained on the island and would then be handed over to the missionaries, whose work everyone had come to admire. When the proposal was explained by Lieutenant-Colonel Davis he received whole-hearted support from the brigade commander, Brigadier R. A. Row, DSO. From the natives came expressions of gratitude and offers of help. The site chosen was covered at the time by an American ammunition dump and fronted by two New Zealand Bofors guns, one of which had shot down the first Japanese aircraft in the campaign. But preliminary work went on as it became possible, and by January, 1944, all was ready for construction to begin.

By now, however, other units had expressed a desire to share in the memorial. To this the battalion readily agreed, and from a mocd est chapel the proposed building blossomed into a full sized church So, to plans prepared by Lieutenants K. Rowe and K. Stemson, 23rd Field Company, New Zealand Engineers, and with wood cut from the surrounding jungie under native guidance by battalion axemen, volunteers set to work to build a church again at Falamai. It would page 71be fitting to say that everything went smoothly. Unfortunately this was not so. Among other things, sawn timber was hard to get—for the church. The framework stood bare for six long weeks. The natives thatched the roof, concrete steps led into the frame of the porch, but only just before the dedication service could the floor be laid down, and pews and a few pieces of church furniture be installed.

The service of dedication on 26 April was conducted by the Rev. E. O. Shield, CF, assisted by American and New Zealand chaplains. Quiet, thoughtful officers and men of many units filled the church and overflowed on the seats outside. The names of the fallen sounded clearly out over the little graveyard where they lay. Anthems were sung by natives and military choirs; Colonel Davis outlined the beginning and progress of the plan, the work of Padre Baragwanath, the continued support of Brigadier L. G. Goss, who had now taken over command of the brigade, the gifts and willing labour; the Padre spoke of the church as a symbol of Faith, a token of remembrance and an expression of thanks.

But it seemed that the important thing had already happened. The previous day the first draft of New Zealand troops had sailed away—and looking back had seen once again a church nestling under the palms. This time, however, it had no bombs beneath the altar. These men had helped to bring about this change—they and others beneath the little white crosses under the twin curled flags, peace— and the dignity of peace—dwelt over Falamai again.