ANZAC MEMORIAL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 45, 27 April 1942, Page 5

ANZAC MEMORIAL

27th ANNIVERSARY MARKED

CEREMONY AT PGHATUROA

RECORD WHAKATANE PARADE

Whakatane's Anzac Day parade and ceremony which took place on the greensward at the foot of Pohaturoa Rock last Saturday morning saw the largest individual muster on record. It is estimated that over four hundred participated, a conspicuous feature being a number of returned men from the present war who paid their silent tribute in common with the veterans of 1914-18. The ceremony this year had definitely taken on a deeper and broader meaning, and there was a complete absence of the 'self adulation' which was such a prominent feature of commerative services throughout the Dominion a few years ago. The local paradte included, besides Returned men and South African veterans, units of the Home Guard, Auxiliary Firemen, Women's! War Auxiliary, Guides, Scouts and Cubs. Headed by the Pipe Band, the procession which paraded from the Winter Show Buildings, made an impressive picture as it passed down the

Strand

Scene at the Rock

In readiness, at the foot of Poll aturoa Rock, the official party stood at the dais, His Worship the Mayor, Mr B. S. Barry, presiding. Slightly to the left stood the cenotaph with its silent guard of honour. Motionless throughout the entire ceremony these figures represented the Maori and Pakeha races, the Home Guard and the Returned men. As they stood bowed over reversed arms they convoyed more than any other feature of the assemblage the significance of Anzac and all it stood for.

The approaching procession was played into position by the pipers after which the first bars of the National Anthem were struck up by the Boys' Band, under the baton of J\lr W. Jarrett.

The perfect day and the green surroundings made the scene a memorable one, and the historic nature of the setting must have struck many in the silent crowd of onlookers.

The Ceremony

Special prayers offered by the Rev. S. G. Caulton while the Scripture reading AA'as taken from and delivered by the Rev. H. Ttagg.

The hymns "All People that on Earth do Dwell," Kipling's Recessional, "Oh God our Help in Ages Past" and "Abide With Me" were sung by the assemblage to band accompaniment.

FolloAving the "Last Post" and the tAvo minutes silence, the notes of the "Reveille" signified the rising of the neAv faith in the future and the deeph T impressed lessons of Anzac. To the accompaniment of the beautiful funereal air "A Garland of Flo Avers" the official wreaths Avere laid at the base of the memorial. The Returned Soldiers hfl past the cenotaph and deposited their 'poppy' blooms on the large marked cross on the green. Their example AA r as folloAA r ed b3 r the rest of the units on parade till the frame Avas a gloAving crimson mass.

The March Past and the Salute to those who paid the supreme sacrifice in both world wars; was carried out with smartness and precision. The Pipers headed the procession back to the water front to the swinging steps of "Bonny Dundee" and once again Whakatane had observed A-nzac Day.