FALLEN HEROES

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 41, 12 November 1926, Page 10

FALLEN HEROES

WELLINGTON HONOURS UNRETURNING BRAVE ARMISTICE DAY SERVICES TWO-MINUTES’ IMPRES- : SIVE SILENCE Though eight years have passed since the Great War, the memory of the heroes who gave their young lives in order that tight and liberty, might prevail is as bright to-day as when the bugles sounded a truce to the world carnage on November 'll, 1918. -Armistice Day. was commemorated in -Wellington/.vesterday .. with. due solemviiity. ■: Promptly at 11 a.m. eix guns ■frohi " the HOW'saluting battery at Point -Jerningbatn gave the signal that the historic anniversary luul arrived. As ■if by magic, the activities of the city ceased, arid for "two minutes profound silence reigned, as' people on the street, in shops and factory, stood reverently with bowed .-heads, 'paying- ii silent tribute to all who had made the supreme sacrifice in . the . greatest war history has , known. At two minutes past 11 the guns (;rashcd out 'again and the city rosei up to buy and sell again. ' AT THE TOWN HALL

-BRIEF, .IMPRESSIVE SERVICE. At the Town Hull a short but im‘.pTessive service was held, at 10,45 a.m. The Mayor occupied the chair, and with him on the platform were Mrs. Norwood, officers of 11.M.5. Diomede and Dunedin, Lieutenant-Colonels Burgess and Symons (of the Defence Force), Mr. T. Forsyth, . M.P., and Councillor W."H. Bennett. There were also pre■'sent the Hon. R. A. Wright (Minister 'of Education); Sir John Luke, M.P.. Cfiuncillor H. D. Bennett, sailors and marinesHrom the .warships in port, and . a fairly large gathering of the public. . Tho service was conducted by the Rev. . T. Fieldeh Taylor, (whose enfeebled condition necessitated the use, of crutches).

It began with tho singing cf the hymn, “O God, Our Help in Ages Past.” ' This was followed by a prayer offered by Mr. (Taylor, at the conclusion cf which two minutes’ silence was ebserved. At its conclusion Mr. Bernard F. Pago played the “Dead March” in “Sa'il.” The “Reveille” was sounded by Sergeant A.

Barke, of the Wellington College Cadets. The- playing of the National Anthem concluded the brief but impressive service; ’

r BATTLE -NOT YET OVER. There was a large attendance at the Conference Hall of the Dominion Farmers’ _ Institute yesterday morning, when

an -impressive -meni-, orial 'service ,wa.B s conducted by flies Rev. E. R.'Weeks,! honorary chaplains to the Njeiv-Zealand | Defence Forces. S Mr. JI. F. Johns-| ton. who presided, f said that though t eight, ..years had| elapsed since - war! ceased, yet they, ins common' with . other ! portions of the Ein-l pire, had again met I to " reiterate and I reaffirm that their

dead remained , with them in precious memory. “Our hearts in all humility still' beat,” he said, “and ever will, beat with reverent gratitude, pride, and thankfulness to those who laid down tbeir lives for us and the world.” “Tlie battle is not yet over,” declared Chaplain Weeks, in the course of a stirring address. “Their cloak falls upon us, for the Old World has far to go ’before she reaches that ideal for which they died Presently, the morning will dawn over the Mothffi- Country, and soon her crowds will be making their way to Whitehall, where in the shadow of the Cenotaph they will stand, thronging every avenue, while the deep-tongued note of Big Ben strikes out.'that "note which is with us now: ‘England and the Empire, remember their dead’.” , . , Two ..’minutes .of silence followed, and the .service" terminated with the singing of “O God. Orir Help in Ages Past” and the -National Ahtheni. WELLINGTON GIRLS’ COLLEGE Armistice Day' was commemorated at the Wellington Girls’ College yesterday morning with -befitting solemnity. The girl? -assembled in Central Hall and the service opened with a recita-tion-for the fallen by Miss Sage, one of the teachers. Then a short address was delivered by Miss Greig, the principal of the college, who referred to the fact that the girls were all of tender years (some perhaps were not

even born), when the events of the Great War occurred. She stressed, the devotion and the unselfishness of the men and women who had fallen in the war, and urged that ■ the girls should not’think of the day as a sad one. Those who had gone to the Great Beyond would not like that, Miss Greig pointed out liow all could engage in the work of reconstruction and help to bring about a new era in international, relationships. The school joined in the singing of “Gh God, Our Help,” the head girl read Psalm 4G, and then followed' the hvmn “Saints from Their Labours Rest,” the pupils bowing their heads and observing the two minutes’ silence at- the encl of the tljird- verse. 'The flag of the school was also lowered for the two minutes. The sendee closed with prayer.

SALVATION ARMY SERVICE An impressive service was also conducted at tho national headquarters of the Salvation Army in Cuba. Street- yesterday morning" by Commissioner James Hay, who enjoined all present to entreat the Alniighty to aid the relatives of the soldiers who' hud sacrificed their lives, and especially the children. After "an . impressive two minutes’ silence had been observed, the National Anthem was sung; and the Doxology chanted. SOLDIERS GRAVES i WELL.' - : TENDED '" memorial tree planted.- - Sir James Allen, in commemoration"' of Armistice Day, yesterday planted a : kauri tree in the Soldiers’ Cemetery at • Karori. There, were....many ...present,. among "whom were officials from the Defence Department, Internal Affairs Department, City Council, and Women’s National Reserve. Sir James Alien spoke" .of ..the war memorials in France and Palestine, which were erected to the memory of the New Zealand soldiers ami nurses, and the cemeteries," which were, well tended. Many of the native flowers which bad I been planted in the cemeteries were, flourishing. The war memorials were very fine, and those which he had visited at Longueval Le Quesriby and at Grevcnstafel, at Chunuk Bair, had been planted with New Zealand flowers and shrubs.: The.mosaic roof of the latter memorial is to be done, by Now Zealanders in memory of their dead. He had visited the war grave cemeteries, and the graves were being well cared for. Headstones will ultiinately be- erected. : 'to the memory of the ten thousand New ' Zealanders who died on the fighting fronts. Photographs of the cemeteries and the graves were being sent by the 'War Graves Commission to those next-of-kin who were unable to visit the cemeteries. All soldiers and nurses graves were under the care of the commission except those in New Zealanu, as the people wished, therefore, it was then duty to care for them. The tree that was planted, said Sir James Allen, would grow into a living eymbol of the strength and self-sacrifice of the men who durum the war fought, and died as a sacrifice for the interest, of the Empire and the world. “It is. pur duty ■ to-day, lie continued, "to think of the nobility of those we have lost, and who gave their lives for us.” “T'4lo Last Post” was then sounded, the two minutes’ silence observed until the . sounding of the ReyerHe. ... . Mrs. Holmes (president Womens National Reserve Memorial Cemetery Committee) and Miss Black, placed upon the central plot in the SoldieiS Cemetery before leaving. OBSERVANCE ELSEWHERE, Dominion Special. Dunedin, November 11. Armistice Day. was observed in . Dunedin. This morning there was a large gathering in front of St. Paul’s. Cathedral, which was lined by the Second Battalion Cadet Bugle Band. The Mayor (Mr. H. L. Tapley, M.P., C.M.G.), was. among those present. At five minutes to 11 tlie bell at the Town Hall commenced to toll, this being continued 'at intervals until 11 o’clock Two minutes silence was observed, Then the bell again began to t<rll and at St. Paul’s Cathedral. the roll of drums could be beard to the playing of the “Last Post” and the "Reveille” by the cadets, after which the Bugle Band marched along Princes . Street prior to dismissing. At 7,30 this evenigg a memorial service was held in St. Paul’s Cathedral, .when the First Battalion Band was present to lead the I singing and provide the incidental music. Auckland, November 11. Armistice Day was . celebrated by a short service of commemoration at St. Matthew’s Church, when the “Dead ■March” was played and the "Last Post” sounded in memorv of the fallen. The Victoria League’s Care of. Graves Committee visited the Soldiers’ Cemtrv at Waikumete Cemetery, and placed- flowers and rosemary on the graves and a wreath on the memorial near the k ‘ Elthatrt, November 11. Following the observance of Armistice Dav Eltliam’s war memorial" gates /at the school were unveiled in the afternoon bv the Hoh. O. J, Hawken, in the presence of- a ■ lavge -crowd; —