ANOTHER ANZAC DAY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 68, 27 April 1945, Page 5

ANOTHER ANZAC DAY

WHAKATANE MEMORIAL SERVICE RECORD NUMBER OF DIGGERS' AN IMPRESSIVE SERVICE Dull skies and a biting westerly could not rob the traditional . Anzac Service held at Pohaturoa Rock last Wednesday of its inspiration and' impressive character. As in the past the parade -of Returned men f Nursing; Scout and Guide units massed in from the historical rock where the service of commemoration took place With all its impressive ceremony and feeling. The cenotaph at the condelusion was left a mass of floral - wreaths in which the glowing tones of autumn predominated, while onca again the memorial poppies of Flanders reddened the i large surface cross laid out on the green lawn.

Headed by the Caledonian Society's "Pipe Band the parade wiiich was binder the control of Mr L. Brown, moved off up the Strand to the lively strains of that well known pipe air 'The Barren Rocks of Aden.' The Returned Soldiers taking pride of place numbered more than ever before. There, were one hundred and 'twenty on parade 9 the ranks being visibly swelled by the number of new 'Diggers' from the present war, Including some who arrived home in the recent draft. The local Air Training Corps par- • aded a representative muster, whilst .after it, in their distinctive uniforms "came members of the local<--V.A.D. service and St. John nursing units. "The Girl Guides, Scouts (Citizens and Scottish) and Wolf Cubs l'ol--lowed in that making a parade which was well up to the standard of other years*. The scene at the Rock was emblematic of the occasion and symbolised the deeper meaning of the word 'Anzac.' The cenotaph was 'draped in the. folds of the Union -Jack, whilst at its four corners, heads bowed ancl arms reversed four members' of fhe Legion of Frontiersmen stood motionless. The dais, accommodated the official group including His Worship the Mayor (Mr B. S. Barry), Mr W. Sullivan M.P., Messrs L. Buddie (Hospital Board) f W. R. Boon (Harbour Board) } L. iLuxton (County Council), and the Revs. J. C. J. Wilson (Anglican), •J. T. Bell (Presbyterian) and F. Attwood (Methodist).

Music for the service was played by the Boys' Band under the baton -of Mr W. Jarrett. Following the National Anthem ? the hymn 'Old Hundredth' was sung by the as--sembly. This, was followed by a short prayer delivered by Rev. Wilsoil. The scripture reading was given by "Rev. Bell. The special Anzac address was delivered in telling fashion by Rev. A. F. Attwood. Other hymns sung by the assemblage were: Kipling's Recessional;, 'O God Our Help in Ages Past'; and 'Abide With Me.' The 'Last Post' a gesture to those who will not return was followed -by the two minutes silence ? in which it would have been possible to have heard the proverbial pin drop. The re-awakening on the new spirit of determination and dedication was symbolised by the sounding of the 'Reveille' after which the official wreaths were placed on the cenotaph to the notes of that beautiful funeral composition 'A Garland of Flowers. 7 The private tributes filled the base of the monument as' the exDiggers filed past in single file to their poppies in the crossform above mentioned. \ When the parade reformed the whole marched past and saluted the monument. When the final unit had paid its tribute the Highland Band struck up the sprightly measure of 'Bonny Dundee' and led the procession back to the eastern Strand where it was dismissed. Thus WhaJkatane's observance of the thirtieth ■anniversary of Anzac Day.