War memento gifted to people of Hamilton

The original glass slide of a photograph of a Gallipoli soldier and his donkey - the basis for Sapper Horace Moore-Jones' famous war-time painting - has been donated to the people of Hamilton by the family.

The gifting of the fragile nearly century-old image follows the renaming of a central Hamilton street to Sapper Moore-Jones Place last week, says Mayor Julie Hardaker.

Moore-Jones was Hamilton High School's first art master and died after rescuing others from the Hamilton Hotel fire of 1922.

"The family of Sapper Moore-Jones were touched by the city's acknowledgement of their ancestor and they retrieved this incredibly fragile original image from their family treasures and have given it to the city."

She says the recognition and celebration of those connected with Hamilton's history is important and there are a number of anniversary events for the city coming up in the next two years.

"I am privileged to receive this very kind and special donation from the Horace Moore-Jones family."