Armistice Day.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 November 1922, Page 2

Armistice Day.

KING AT THE CENOTAPH. AN IMPRESSIVE PILGRIMAGE. LONDON, Nov. 11. Grey skies greeted the anniversary of Armistice Day. Whitehall and all its approaches were densely crowded hours before the ceremony, aval seamen, Guardsmen, airmen, marines and exservicemen formed a square round the Cenotaph. The King, wearing a service uniform, and accompanied by the Prince of Wales and Duke of York, arrived shortly before eleven o’clock. The King, in the presence of representatives of the Navy, the Army and the civilian services, deposited a magnificent wreath of scarlet poppies and laurel on the north side of the Cenotaph, his sons placing similar tributes on either side. Lord Curmn, on behalf of tlie Ministry, laid a wreath on the west side composed of white lillies. The High C mmissioners followed. Australia’s wreath was of laurel and palms with a cluster cf crimson roses attached. New Zealand’s wreath was a laurel with pink roses attached. The Duke cf Devonshire offered a tribute on behalf of the Colonial Office. Sir Edward Lucas (South Australia) and the Hon. J. A. Fihelly (Queensland) also placed wreaths.

As “ Big Ben ” struck eleven o’clock all heads were hared. The city’s very pulse seemed to cease and the silence throughout the whole of the Metropolis was most impressive. Then the bands blared out the “Old Hundredth” in which the crowd joined heartily. The ceremony ended with the *‘ Reveille.” Tl:e tributes included a big sheaf of golden chrysanthemums, the gift of Anzacs. Lady Allen placed a wreath on behalf of the Central School, Palmerston North. The pilgrimage continuing all day long, and the base of the Cenotaph was hidden by thousands of beautiful floral designs. An unbroken stream of pilgrims visited tlie grave of the Unknown Warrior in Westminister Abbey.

Throughout the Metropolis women sold millions of artificial Flanders’ poppies in aid of destitute and disabled soldiers. Later, several processions of unemployed ex-servicemen paraded the Embankment and 'Whitehall, headed by hands and carrying banners, one of which was inscribed: “ 1914 Mons starred. 1922 starving conditions.”

BELGIUM’S UNKNOWN SOLDIER. BRUSSELS, Nov. 11. There was a pathetic ceremony in the waiting-room of the railway station at Bruges when the body of Belgium’s Unknown Warrior was chosen. The room was transformed into a chapelle urdente in which five coffins were placed, two from the Yser, one from Liege, one from Antwerp, and one from Namur. A blinded soldier, who was led in by the Minister for War, selected one by placing a crown one one of the coffins. The body was then recoffined and sent to Brussels for internment near the Colomie du Congres.

King Albert, Prince Leopold, and representatives of the Allied armies, including Field-Marshal Earl French of Ypres, attended the burial of Belgium’s unknown soldier, after which a silence of one minute was observed throughout the country. The King delivered a speech, nnd thousands of people dropped flowers on the tomb.