THE "DAY" IN LONDON

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2755, 26 April 1916, Page 6

THE "DAY" IN LONDON

ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE COMMEMORATION

By Telegraph—Prere Association—Copyright

(Rec. April 25, 8.30 p.m.)

London, April 25. A great event, written deep in tha history of Australia and Now Zealand, under the date of April 25, will be celebrated with religious ceremony in Westminster Abbey to-day. That venerable building has been closely associated with every great national incident since Norman William was crowned there, and its vaulted roofs Lave witnessed State funerals, public thanksgivings, and coronations, besides the, routine daily services, for eight hundred years. To-day's great religious service will touch the furthest fibres of the Empire.

. The first anniversary of the Australians and New Zealanders' lauding on Gallipoli is to be devoted to honouring the memory of those heroes who fell in the campaign, and thus opened a new and wonderful chapter of Australasia's record. Tho Gallipoli fighting was so full of stirring and tragic incidents that for days there have Tse'en signs of 11 Popular desire to pay a tribute to those who gave their lives in tie Empire's service. Another incentive waa the prospect of seeing many of the actual heroes who had returned from that land of death and slaughter. Of tho Australians and New Zealanders"' now in Britain, nearly two ■ thousand will participate in the service. Many" are convalescents, some have quite recovered." Of those to be present, over five hundred will be drawn from the Monte \ ideo .Hospital, four hundred from Abbey wood, two hundred. from Horseferry Road, and two hundred from such hosnitals as Harefield. _ The New Zealanders, "under Major Dawson,' will detrain at Temple' Station and parade on the Embankment;, the ; Australians, under Lieut.-Colonel Johnstone, • will form . a battalion belonging to Abbeywood and Monte Video, and will arrive at Waterloo , Station, cross Waterloo Bridge, and combine with the New Zealanders at Kingsway. Tho ■ procession will march via the Strand and Whitehall to tlie Abbey. Many Anglo-Australians will be. accommodated at the windows and on the roofs of the Victoria, Queensland, AYest Australian and New Zealand offices. Sir.' Thomas Mackenzie and his staff have already moved to these new premises.

; The arrangements at the Abbey arc already complete. The massed bands and six hundred fit men of the Australian Contingent will be accommodated m the north transept. The New. Zealanders will enter the Abbey, by the Poet's Corner, and occupy the south transept. Here they will; find themselves among the memorials of England's most noted men, on every hand reminders of those whose writings have 6tirred. the imagination and patriotism of the race, from Chaucer to Dickens.

AUSTRALIA'S TRIBUTE

IMPRESSIVE COMMEMORATION.

(Rec. April 25, 7.30 p.m.)

Sydney, April 21. Glorious weather favoured tne Anzao Day celebrations. The chief functions were the procession cf fire thousand returned soldiers through, the principal streets thronged by immense crowds, to the Doni'am, where an . impressive commemoration service was conducted; services at the various churches,- all largely attended; a luncheon to returned'soldiers at the-Town Hall; concert iu the _ Town Hall at night, and great recruiting rallies throughout the day and evening. An army of - ladies; "collecting, was' busy in the city and suburban streets. At nine o'clock in the morning all trains and trams stopped for a minute, and at noon • everyone stood bareheaded for a minute.

I Similar demonstrations were held throughout the -Commonwealth 1 . ' The Anzac Day messages included tributes fr.om the-King, General Birdwood and Sir lan Hamilton. '.

. There was. a. brilliant "gathering -in the Town Hall, where the Lord Mayor gave a luncheon to 2500 soldiers. Speeches were delivered by the "State Governor (Sir Gerald Strickland), the Lor<s Mayor, the. State Premier '(Mr. Holinan), - and other leaders, '

Mr. Holman declared that the Government was determined that the men who had fought for their country 'should bo a first charge on'the revenues of tho State. Whet ner individual effort fail, ed or not, the State would see that their debt of gratitude was paid to the Anzacs.

ftie weather generally was favourable to the celebrations in the various State capitals, the chief features being processions of troops, and special -services in the churches; Great crowds participated, and the' proceedings everywhere Were., marked oy a chastened ■ enthusiasm.

In Melbourne the celebrations were confined to, religious services and-the citizens' demonstration in the 'Town Hall. Spectacular events have been arranged for Fridav. -

IMMORTALISED IN SAGAS OF THEIR NATION. (Rec. April 25, 7.30 p.m.) , ■ London,' April 24 Mr. W. M. Hughes (the Primeu\linis. tot' of Australia) sent a special \Anzac Day message to Australia, paying a tri.bute to ''tho heroic dead," and also one to Cairo, to be.read at the memorial service there. In the latter he says: ;'Their* deaths and deeds will he sung in sagas to generations of Australians to the end of time."