Whakatane Remembers

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 152, 26 April 1940, Page 5

Whakatane Remembers

ANZAC MEMORIAL SERVICE

RETURNED SOLDIERS ON PARADE

IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY AT "ROCK"

Service in Theatre. "Wc gather here to-day for the ■ purpose commemorating the lici- . oic Gallipoli campaign," said the 'Rev. J. Pattison, who delivered tlic - -main address. "In the early hours -of the 25th of April, 1915, one of the largest flotillas ol war craft and transports was assembled off the Dav • denelles. The men comprised the 'Slower of the Australasian colonies -ancl before landing on ,a shore which jhad been considered impregnable few of them realised that one-tenth • of their number would never see the .sun rise again." The speaker went on to deal with ' the terrible hardships cf the campaign, mentioning the shortage of food, arms, and equipment with which the first troops had to contend. In spite of everything, liow- ' -ever, the gallant soldiers of the Anti podes had carried on, digging in • and gaining the first frail foothold while all the world wondered. ■f' The Ensign's Stars. Amplifying his conception of the ■stars on the New Zealand ensign and their portent,, the Rev Pattlson : said that the top star stood for jus''Vtice. In the last war the British nation had entered the conflict for exactly the same reason for which she -was fighting to-day—the rights of . smaller nations and the stemming oof military barbarism. She was also fighting for the 1 Church of the living God and there ■-could not be a juster cause. The star on the left signified bravery. The rocks of Gallipoli rang with the gallant deeds of the fighting arm. There had never been a -more daring or a more heroic exploit. The star on the right stood ftir suffering and there had been a wide and dark river of suffering over -which the Anzacs had crossed. Apart from the actual war casualties, •one-tenth of the army had died of ■exposure and neglect. In all, the .total casualties killed, wounded and rmissing, was 1.15,000 men. To this : number had to be added 100,000

r.sickness cases. The last star, at the foot of the -constellation, ;stood for hope. Our troops had never once wavered, nor "had they been downhearted in spite -of the gigantic sacrifices which they ivere called upon to make. Strategic Value. '"Had the Gallipoli campaign been in vain," asked the Rev Pattison. "There were those who said it was! v But from a strategic point of view ' it had to be remembered that it took . the flower of the Turkish Army to i meet- the threat of invasion, thus the pressure from other ..Allied forces in Salonika and Mesopotamia. It was estimated that no "less than 400,000 Turks were numn fbered in the Army that faced the ..Anzacs. It was also said that the Anzac exploit largely influenced Italy's decision to - come in on the -side of .the Allies. What side would she be to-day?" Dealing with the high regard "lield Turks for their 'foes, the speaker said that on the "body of a dead Turkish officer had; ' ±>een found a letter written to his ■wife, of which the following was an •extract: "These Britishers are the "best fighters in the world, we liavo -chosen the wrong friends." It was pleasing to note that the modern - soldiers of Turkey had chosen to -fight shoulder to shoulder in the pre ./sent cause for humanity. Message of Hope. The efforts of the Anzacs could "therefore be claimed to have been - a great contribution to the final victory. As Christians who believed in -Christ, it was good to record thestatement by. the Great Galilean, of good cheer, I have overcome the world'* This was a message of hope ancK stimulation in the present dark days and to all who believed in the -cause of justice and the Mercy of •an Almighty God, there could be no more comforting; or more uplifting rShought. ¥ v i

Glorious weather favoured the observation of the twenty-fifth anniversary 01 Anzac Day in Whakatane yesterday, when the usual .memorial service, parade and dedication ceremony took place. The xeturned soldiers contingent was as usual a good representation of town and district, approximately a hundred men being on parade and taking part in the proceedings at the Cenotaph erected on the greensward fronting Pohaturoa. The memorial service in the Grand Theatre drew a packed audience, many persons being compelled to stand in the alley-ways for lack of seating accommodation.

ORDER OF SERVICE HOMAGE OF ASSEMBLY Throughout the entire service in the Grand Theatre yesterday over which the Mayor, Mr B. S. Barry, presided, an air of respectful and quiet reverence pervaded the proceedings. Though fully in tune with the traditional Anzac spirit, tliere appeared to he au even deeper and more sustained feeling on the parts of the general public. The fact that so many of those present had sons, or relatives, away with the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force, was probably the reason for this underlying note. ' The hymns were led by the Whakatane Citizens' Band and were as under: "All People That on Earth do Dwell*'' Kipling's "Recessional,"' "O, God, Our Help in Ages Past," "Abide With Me" and the National Anthem. Those assisting in the proceedings were: The Rev. S. G. Caul ton, who read the introductory prayer; the Rev. C. P. Lucas, who read a suitable extract from the Scriptures and the Rev. Pattison„ who gave the address. Others on the platform were: Messrs J. W. Sumner, J. L. Burnett and W. F. K. Raymond. Following the Benediction the large, silent audience filed out into the street, where many again attended the ceremony at the Rock.

AT THE "ROCK" A SOLEMN MEMORIAL RED CROSS OF POPPIES Those who witnessed the memorial servi.ee at the "Rock," when the returned soldiers, members of local bodies, and town institutions, filed past the Cenotaph and,, one by one, placed their emblems of remembrance (Poppies) in the shape of n large cross on the lawn remarked the effect which was striking, with the carpet of poppies glowing crimson in the sunlight. The general public grouped about the scene 111 a quadrangle the Boy Scouts, Cubs, Territorials, the Pipe and Brass Bands taking up the immediate positions in front. Following the first! six liars of the Na-t tional Anthem, the hymn, "Abide With Me" was sung in English and Maori. This was followed by the "Last Post." Two minutes of silence was observed by the assembly, at the end of which the welcome notes of the "Reveille" was the signal for the lifting of the banners and once again the returned soldiers moved forward in a single column to pay their respects to those of their comrades who did not return. One by one, they filed past the Cenotaph, with its silent guardian (a single trooper of the Mounted Rifles) who stood with arms reversed immediately in front of the memorial. The laying of the official wreaths was carried ovit to the accompani- ! ment of the strains of the w r ell-f known funeral air, "A Garland of Flowers," played by the Citizens Band. Members of the public .were then invited to add their tributes and the base of the Memorial was soon a glowing mass of colour. J A singular feature was the number of children who went forward with wreaths of all descriptions, while every unit on parade was also represented in the floral tributes. March Past. Major Haeusler was in charge of the parade,, which mustered one of the largest numbers of returned soldiers seen in the Borough for some time. All units fell in behind the Pipe' Band and to tflie lively measures of the "Cock o' the North" the parade moved off doiwn the Strand to the Winter Show Building where all units were dismissed.