ANZAC DAY.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 April 1921, Page 1

ANZAC DAY.

LOCAL COMMEMORATIONS, i OF A GREAT EVENT. . y To-day in many parts of the Empire ! and particularly in the Antipodes, Anzac Day is being commemorated as a truly national holiday. The date commemorated carries the memories back to April 25, 1915, when the British carried out that great feat of arms in i landing on the Gallipoli Peninsula. It J was part of the plan of campaign of the j Great'War to keep the Turks fully ocj cupied in the home zone, so that they I would be less able to assist their new ! found allies in Central Europe. A de- ! cision was reached to force the Dardni nelles, but in March of 1915, this ■ failed, and the British losses included jH.M.S. Invincible and H.M.S. Ocean, ' while the French battleship Bouvet, ; was lost also. When it was found that i a land attack was necessary t-o operate i with the Navy, Sir lan Hamilton was sent out to take the military command, i As a result of a reconnaissance it was i decided to land on the Peninsula, at different points simultaneously, and arrangements were made accordingly. As soon as circumstances permitted this was done, and Sir lan Hamilton in his illuminating dispatch has vividly des--1 cribed a series of magnificent feats of | arms whereby the wonderful event was j actually accomplished. Five distinct | beaches were selected for simultaneous ' landings, and wonderful to be said, all | were effected. 1 The. Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (the initial letters of which gave the world the undying word—“Anzac”) was appointed to a beach on the Aegean side of'the Peninsula. That , historic point will be known now for !Ml time ns Anzac Cove. The landing j to the north of Gaba Tepe was carried out before daybreak on April 25. The J troops were escorted and conveyed, by the Second Squadron of the Fleet under Rear-Admiral Thursby. The point of actual landing so was difficult and rugged that Sir lan Hamilton in his re- ' port stated that he considered the Turks were not at all likely to anticipate such a descent. “The boats’ , we are told, “approached the land in silence and were close to the shore before the enemy stirred. The moment the boats touched land the troops’ turn had cone • Like lightning they leapt ashore, and ! each man as he did so went straight as ! his bayonet at the enemy. So vigorous was the onslaught that the Turks made no attempt to withstand it, and fled from ridge to ridge, pursued by the Australian and New Zealand infantry.

By 2 p.m. on the eventful day. 12.0C0 men and two batteries of Indian Mounted' Artillery had been landed. The Turks were speedily reinforced, bringing their strength to 20,000. Desperate counter attacks were made by the enemy, but these were all repelled, and the Anzacs entrenched themselves on the ground so hardly won. This crowded day began the real war history of the New Zealand forces, who went forward from front to front hearing themselves gallantly and devotedly. The commemoration of this gallantry and devotion all through the war is the occasion of' this Anzac Day celebration. Parliament has decreed that this 25th. day of April in each year is to be a national holiday in commemoration of the part taken by New Zealand troops in the Great War, and in memory of those who gave their lives for the Empire, and so with loyal and grateful feelings the nation is revering the occasion.

CELEBRATION AT HOKITIKA. THE CHURCH PARADE. The weather for Anzac Day broke cloudy, and about 9 a.m. a light misty rain fell for some time, but it held off during the military church parade, which marched up Revell Street to the Churches shortly after 10.20 a.m. There was a good number of people in the streets, and the parade was of a substantial size. Major Jeffries was in command of the parade, and there were present in the order named the following:— Municipal Band, under Bandmaster C. Ross, 20 strong.

Returned Soldiers, under the President (Mr G. P. Sellers), including Sur-geon-Capt Teichelmann, Eng-Lieut E. Shannon, ex-Capt F. McGregor, 44 strong.

Territorials, under Lieut K. R. Robertson, 27 strong. Senior Cadets, under Lieut Niven, 60 strong. Boy Scouts, 8 strong. Pipe Band, 10 strong. Hokitika Fire Brigade, under Supt. Braddon and Dep. Supt. Davidson, 8 strong. School Children in very strong array. Local Bodies, headed by the Mayor, (Mr Perry), and Borough Council and representatives of the County Council and Harbor Board. THE MEMORIAL SERVICE. After the Church Parade and services in the several Churches, the Parade reassembled in Stafford Street in the vicinity of the Pioneers’ Memorial, and then, headed by the two Bands, marched to Cass Square to the site of the Westland Great War Memorial, where the concrete foundations have been placed in position. The weather, which held up for an hour while the Church service was on, changed for the worse before noon and a light rain fell all through the main ceremony and continued as the afternoon wore on. This however did not prevent a very large attendance being present, and a most impressive and interesting ceremony was carried successfully through. The proceedings opened with the singing of “The Okl Hundredth.” Then followed in order reading of the Psalm by Rev Dr Holloway; a prayer by Rev P. B. Fraser following.

The Band then played a selection in memory of the Fallen, during whiqh wreaths were deposited on the Memorial Foundation, under the direction of Lieut Mclntosh, M.C. by a number of young girls. The National Anthem was then sung by the assemblage, the choirs leading.

‘ The Mayor of Hokitika (Mr G. A. Perry) who is also Chairman of the War Memorial Committee, then addressed the assemblage.

Mr Perry said it was a very solemn occasion that had brought them together that day. in memory of the great deeds done during the Great War —the greatest in the history of the world. Our men had gone in great numbers to help the Empire in its dire need, and the best way we could show our appreciation was to endeavour to do our best to hold on to what they had fought and died for. The war had left many sad hearts, but it may he some consolation to the bereaved to know that the sacrifice of their loved ones was not in vain He would ask Rev. Mr Cuttle to address them.

The Rev. T. N. Cuttle, of St. John’s Presbyterian Church, Greymouth, (a returned soldier), in the course of an impressive address, said in 1914 came the call to Empire, because they realised the meaning of Empire, what it meant to belong to the greatest empire tne world had ever known They had answered the call because they realised something of the duties and the privileges that they held. They had been asked to come and help a cause both right and holy. From Canada and Africa, India, Australia and New Zealand, and other parts of the Empire, had come the response. All had responded grandly to the call of Empire in support of liberty and freedom. They came from the plough and the office, from the professions and the ranks ol labour, and whatever their hearing they put on khaki and very soon were only known by a number. But they remembered them not as a number but as men of llesh and blood of high hopes and the purest aspirations, who had thrown up their positions, and who went forth to do tlieir duty to their God and country. The sneaker told an interesting story of the owner of a button he had in his hand. The man had answered the first call and fought on Gallipoli, had come back and gone forth again to die at Messinos. Just before tiiat great battle he had written home stating lie had never wanted to die before, as the fight was always against them, but now there were signs of victory and if he did die now he would not care because his home and ideals were safe. That, continued Mr Cuttle summed up the position. Their men had gone to fight to protect their loved ones and protect that which wai best and sweetest of all—their loved ones homes. Tlieir sympathies were given to the parents and others who had lost their loved ones, who had made their sacrifice by their blood. That blood calls to-day to us to make homes that are left worthy of their sacrifices and the trials which those men had passed through. These men had heard the call of Empire and the call of their homes, and it was needed that wc should make their sacrifice worthy of those brave men who had so freely given of their best in the cause of liberty. A Firing Party of Returned Soldiers under Lieut Mclntosh, M.C., then fired three volleys, the “Last Post being sounded by Trumpeter Ross. The National Anthem followed. This concluded the ceremony. The parade then marched back to the South African War Memorial in Weld Street, where further wreaths were laid on that memorial. Three volleys were fired and “ The Last Post ” was sounded. The parade then marched hack to the Drill Shed and were dismissed, the day’s ceremony being concluded.