On 24 April 1920 the Anglican Dean of Christchurch unveiled this memorial ‘Calvary’ cross outside St Michael’s Church, Christchurch. It was carved from Carrara marble and mounted on a plain three-stepped concrete base which bore the inscription, “To the Glory of God and in grateful memory of New Zealand soldiers who fell in the war, 1914-1919. ‘Let light eternal shine upon them.’”
There are no congregational rolls of honour inside the church. There is, however, a South African War brass memorial plaque. This was erected to the memory of Lieutenant Alexander Don Ross, of the Canterbury Rough Riders 3rd Contingent, who died at Pretoria on 10 January 1901.
See: ‘St Michael’s Church: A Soldier’s Memorial’, Press, 17/4/1920, p. 10; ‘Soldiers’ Memorial: Unveiled at St Michael’s’, Press, 26/4/1920, p. 2; Samuel Rewi Cuming, Church of St Michael and All Angels, Christchurch, 1972, p. 8.
Image of cross: Glennis Austin, 2005
Image of plaque and text: Bruce Ringer, 2014