Anzac emphasis on team spirit

Press, 26 April 1979, Page 2

Anzac emphasis on team spirit

The finest tribute by New Zealanders to the men who died in action would be to say that they worked as a team, said the commander of the 3rd Infantry Brigade Group (Colonel I. H. Burrows) in an address at the Citizens’ Anzac Day service in Christchurch Cathedral yesterday. Colonel Burrows, who told a packed cathedral that he had lost friends in action in his 23 years as a professional soldier, said that New Zealand Anny casualties in World War II totalled 68.500 men, or a

quarter of the eligible population of young males at that time. At the Somme in 1916, the New Zealand Division had suffered 7000

casualties in 23 days — half the division’s strength. A m a c h i n e-gunner’s life expectancy was at times as short as 30 minutes.

' "What inspired these men when they knew beforehand what their chances were?”

said Colonel Burrows. “I am tired of the trite and pompous answers I have heard so often. I think the machine gunner’s answer to the question of what inspired him would be, *1

wouldn’t let my mates down.’ “He identified himself with a team, perhaps of eight men, with whom he shared hardship and death. Ultimately, he identified ■with his nation. The team, then and all it stands for, is fundamental to our way of

life. The real measure of a nation’s worth is its capacity when the chips are down to work as a team. The men we honour today are those who paid the penalty for believing they could.” Colonel Burrows said that

Anzac Day should be a day for people to look at themselves and “ask themselves if they worked as a team.”

The service was arranged by the Christchurch City Council and the Christchurch Returned Services’ Association.

The Governor-General (Sir Keith Holyoake) read chapter 15 of St John’s

Gospel and the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr H. G. Hay) read two extracts from the book, “Infantry Brigadier.” by Major-General H. K. Kippenberger, commanding officer of the

20th Battalion during World War 11.

The Rev. W. B. Glassey, of St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, was chaplain of the day and the Remembrance was read by the president of the Christchurch R.S.A., Mr E. E. Dann. A tribute in music, “Onward Christian Soldiers,” was sung by the Royal Christchurch Musical Society, accompanied by the Skellerup-Woolston Band, conducted by Mervyn Waters.

Music for the parade was provided by the Band of the 2nd Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment. The final prayer and blessing were given by the Rt Rev. T. Daly.

The Dawn Parade in Cathedral Square earlier in the day was attended by about 300 returned servicemen and others paying tribute to the fallen. About 12 wreaths were laid at the Citizens’ War Memorial.

At the Papanui R.S.A. sub-branch service the guest speaker, Mr John Collins, was applauded after his address. Mr Collins is on the executive of the Christchurch R.S.A.