The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY APRIL 24. 1928. IN MEMORIAM.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 April 1928, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY APRIL 24. 1928. IN MEMORIAM.

Tr.UK is passing so rapidly in these fust moving days that the memory of events during the period of the Great War is perhaps becoming dulled. Besides, it is fourteen yeais since that fateful August day when Britain unsheathed her sword in the cause of righteousness. Just as the older generation

may he forgetting, so there is a newer generation coming on born outside tbo war period, who know not of it personally, and may only know of it now as a tale twice told. But thirteen

years ago there was a groat event in the (iroat War which hold Australia anil Now Zealand very ilo.se together, and thrilled the two peoples in the Kins ter id that year as they never were thrilled before.. One of the war correspondents of the time referred to the Great A nzar Day landing at the Dardanelles as “the blooding of the colonial troops.” It Has flmt in very essence. Tliere is in the local .Wiiseuin

jj room tile copy of a great painting depicting the landing of the A n/.ac I troops, and it is impossible to study >j that pointrayal without realising what ;:! an exacting duty was demanded of the I raw colonial troops untrnind in warjf fare, to storm what might lie deemed I! to he impregnable heights. But the I deed was done. Then came the story—j a moving story—of great gallantry, I; and high praise to the colonial troops. | During those Easter da vs tliere was j a thrill I in the stirring amnints of i what was accomplished. And after- ! wards came the casualty lists. They j told the story in another hey, for ; they emphasised all too well just what was demanded and what was given. It was the great personal sacrifice of war. And it was hut a. prelude of what was to come. Anzor deeds were the forerunner of what the Australian and New Zealand troops had to do in almost every seat of war. And they never flinched. And all the time the war casualty lists came through. Tomorrow will be the commemoration day of the Anzac Landing and rightly it is held and declared to he a dayin nienioriam for all out- fallen in the Great 'War. To-morrow homage will he paid to those who made the supreme sacrifice and who by their deatli assisted in the end to make the world ] safe “so that we might live here in peace.” And this tribute must he no less to the living who also served and who by providence, tnrac through the 1 great adventure, hut who. none the * loss, took their risk in the great S struggle for the future of humanitv. \ The sacrifice was not in vain. Vic- 1 tory was dearly bought in human life, hut it was achieved thanks to the 11 courage and resource of those charged F with the defence. Anzac Day served ll to create a standard in achievement. T The raw colonial soldiers when put to the ordeal behaved under deadly tire with all the military characteristics of tried forces. The feat of arms was ti in itself a notable event in the war. b

History has since unfolded how great an achievement was performed, and how in the occupation of Gallipoli the Anzac forces went so near a very notable victory. But thfit nspec{ is pot

the prominent feeling in this time of commemoration. Bather is it pride and respect for the ideal of patriotism espoused by all who went forth to war in the defence of the Empire’s interests, and who joined with others in assisting to defend the: ravaged weak. The Empire had evolved a family of units, who became instantly united in the time of need and danger, and the units of Australia and New Zealand, com hi lied in Anzac forces, were no less serviceable than other units ol the Empire in winning credit ami renown, and in doing material service towards the task which called for such supreme effort—the winning of the war. The deeds perfermed gave confidence as to the virility of our nation, and showed on what good material it was possible to build. And so at this anniversary,

our memories turn back to the fateful. eventful days of yore and we recall in grateful spirit the services performed, the deed done and the sacrifices made to win an honourable peace. Many noble lives were given, many healths were broken in the cause of freedom. The story of it all is with iis now in grateful, sympathetic mom M'.v for all and t.i all who sulforcd ill the task of winning the Groat War.