ANZAC OBSERVANCE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 67, 26 April 1944, Page 5

ANZAC OBSERVANCE

PARADE AND SERVICE

WEATHER CURTAILS CEREMONY

Broken weather driving up from the west forced a variation, of the usual impressive Anzac ceremony at Pohaturoa Rock in Whakatane, which this year was celebrated yesterday and enacted before a large and ■silent crowd. The actual service took place in the Grand 'Theatre but it was found possible immediately afterwards to carry ouit the open air ceremonial despite a strong wind' and threatening sky. The parade this year included -more Returned Soldiers than ever, their numbers being substantially Sncreased by men from the present " war who were given the honour of iheading the section down the Strand. - Headed by the Pipe Band the jjarade moved off from the eastern waterfront and comprised besides the exDiggers, the Fire Brigade, Legion • <of Frontiersmen, St. John Ambulance, the Nursing Section, Girl • the two Scout Troops and the Cub Pack —in all an impressive • display and possibly more representative than on past occasions. At the Rock Following the indoor service, all units paraded at the Rock where the flag-draped cenotaph stood in the • centre of the green, between the great bulk of the historic pomontory and the Hurunui Apanui Monument. Its. dignified white outline spoke of the depth of feeling which • the spirit of Anzac to-day lias come "to mean to the average New ZeaThe laying on of the official ■•wreaths was carried out to the beautiful notes of the funereal selection, "A Garland of Flowers" played by the Whakatane. Boys Band. As at past -ceremonies the returned men then filed past the monument and one by one stabled their poppies into the turf within the enclosure of a large marked cross —a memory gesture which would be Ijard to better, T.he wreaths from all units on parade were laid at the base of the monument, until it became a mass -of white and gold with here and there the sheen of green laurel "leaves peeping through. When the parade had reformed the sounding of the "Last Post" brought about a hush, only broken by the high wind and the fluttering of the flags about the cenotaph. The "Revielle" brought the crowded enclosure to life once again and the parade then moved off marching .past the scene of the memorial in salute to fallen comrades of this ■ and the last Avar. Down the Strand the pipers play--ed "Heilan Laddie" as the procession marched with brisk step back •to the mustering point once more.