ANZAC DAY

Hokitika Guardian, 26 April 1933, Page 2

ANZAC DAY

OELEBRATIONS AT HOKITIKA

A NOTABLE GATHERING

The weather was flue yesterday for Anzac Day, improving as the morning wore bn and the afternoon was isunny, with an absence of wind, enabling the Anzac Day commemoration to be carried out completely in the open air.

Shortly after one o’clock the military parade marched from the Drill Hall, under charge of -Cant. Bleach. The Hokitika Municipal Band headed the parade, in full ' strength under Bandmaster Richards, r-,n d were followed by Returned Soldiers 42 strong, a firing, party of 14, territorials 32, boy scouts 20, cubs 14, girl guides 24, and brownies 14.

The parade 1 marched up Revell, Weld, 'Bealey and Stafford Streets to Cass Square, and gathered round the Cenotaph there, where ia> large assemblage had assembled. Tbe Mayor of Hokitika (Mr G. A. Perry 0.8. E.) c was chairman. The 1 National Anthem by the Band opened the proceedings.

THE MAYOR’S ADDRESS

Y The Mayor in his opening addresssaid they had gathered together that day to commemorate .an event which n,..\vill live through time, the famous •flanding at Gallipoli by members of the: Sritisji Army of which the Australians and New Zealands formed part. They had dugi in on that heach and hillside*, and held it for months and in end. though they had withrdawn from thepositions they had not been defeated. Great as had been oiir losses, the lossesof the Turks was even greater.'’ Themen of the British Annji who landed-; a t Gallipoli were men of more than • ordinary calibre. Many .of the best of men had lost their lives for them, and this day they desired to record the sacrifice they had made. They had given of their best and had acquitted themselves . with courage, ; patience, endurance and unity. One of the reasons why we celebrate this day is so that those young people who are .coming on, may know what was done at that great landing, so that jTtlie. memory of it may remain for ■ '■eivfii; with ns. - The lessons taught ■ ( should be remembered for ever. The 'lessons that Arzac taught us of cour- . agej; patriotism, and unity, if we take tlicm to heart, should help, us in the troublous times of the present. Bad and' all as the times are r.pw, they are nothing to what we passed through! at the time of the- war. That conveyed a lesson which we should all. take to heart. Though there are some, among u,s who would glorify other nations but their own, they are only wreckers and not builders of a : nation. • Tile hymn “0 God our, help in ages past” was then sung, to Band accom- •' paniment. ' Tbe Rev. C. 0. Hailmvood then gave a scriptural reading. .. The hymn “Lead'Kindly Light”. was sung and the Rov, H. J. W. Knights ‘"' Jed the assemblage in prayer.

REV. NAYLOR’S ADDRESS

IVfcH;V le jßev. G. A/. Naylor in the course of an address said this "as remembrance day. "What will you ro- . msirihbV. ’" It.. will, be remembered in dilfei'dn’t ways. The older will think il ofv'the riien, they, knew, perhaps somt>: I efi your, children .who took part in the I great struggle, who came forwai’d when they were wanted, and will be remembered now they have gone. Some here will remember a beach and a hillside, swept away by a. terrible storm. Aon will think of the' men who went with, you and will remember the men "ho ;ji many oases died beside you. You will "honour the memory of these men who . did, not -come back, on this day of remembrance. You will remember that you are -in the' presence of the dead-—the dead of-a great army. The remembrance of those things accompanies one’s thoughts, and knowledge of‘what they had done. •" And >as we £ remember we will think again of the ■ . reason of it 'all. As the iidcriptic.i y" ' on this . Cenotaph truly -states—“We lie dead in many lands, so that you may live in peace.” That was the meaning of this gathering to-day. In those days there was something higher and nobler than there has been since. Vi There was one clear cut issue—to fight and to win. To-day the issues are confused, we have not the same clear t issues. It was not -right that we- : slnuld indulge in ease and softness, but-'we should all do our utmost for

the peace and purity of this land. | Peace is the fruit of righteousness and j it is not easy to gain righteousness. | ( We should recognise our debt to those j ' who went away to fight for us. Each i man who. went away handed in a. blank cheque. It might have 'been filled in for the full amount. In some cases it was and in others it was not. AYe should recognise the debt that we owe to those who came hack. Iho men stood as a wall against oppression against the weak and the innocent. They came hack decked out in the coat of glory. It was a pity that 1 they had taken off those coats. They j had fought for the peace and security }of the land. How is it that the cent |of glory is gone. It is not because of lack, of strength or courage, hut > chiefly because the issue lias been | confused. During the war they fought i for essentials. You did not fight and '( they did not fight tlnft wo should | .have luxury and idleness, hut j that we -should haven peace I, and righteousness. This is a i good and and a fair land, hut it ij is not all that it should be. Nations ■i do not die through war, hut through corruption, and our fight is not yet over. We have yet a battle in which - we may hear arms, to see that our children grow up in safety. In no other way oan a memorial he made in this country of ours. It must be made by men from that which they ! valued most. We lost 17,000 men from ‘J New Zealand and the world ten j million lives -i,n. that war of four i years. May we fight no less bravely J than they fought in those four years, i The hymn “Nearer My God to Thee” was sung, Ensign *R. Browse then J giving the Benediction, j The funeral march “The Garland of [Flowers”, was then played by the i Band.

; A number of wreaths were then I placed on the. Cenotaph. | The firing patty fired three volleys - and Ensign R. Prows© .sounded the - “Lait Post.” The Royal Salute wr.s | then given and the “Reveille’' sounded ? by the bugler. i The parade.then moved off to the j South African memorial in Weld - Street, where the firing party fired i three volleys, and the hand and terI ritorials marched. hack to the Drill Hall 5 , the Returned Soldiers marched to the Cemetery and the Girl Guides | and were dismissed.

AT THE CEMETERY

The Returned -Soldiers on arrival at the Cemetery visited the graves of 46 returned soldiers and war workers, depositing a wreath on each grave, and standing to attention on each ioccasion. The mqu were then dismissed.

A REUNION,

j Returning from the Cemetery by : cars provided by- Messrs Newmans 1 Motors Ltd. 1 , tbe Returned Soldiers Asj seciation entertained the men and a j number of 1 friends and Mvn'fipcoplfe -at j afternoon ten in the Soldiers’ Hall, j where;a Very dainty repast had been ; (ii-rangjod. Belon? the gathering din- ‘ persed Mr AY. E, Brown, on behalf [of the Association, expressed thanks ; to the ladies who had -so kindly arI ranged the afternoon tea and manj aged the Paddy’s market on Saturday j and the donors of goods therefore, jHe also took the opportunity of expressing the pleasure all members felt ['at-tieiiig able to welcome their former | president,. Mr D. .J. Evans, at the ! gathering, Mr Brown appreciating in j glowing terms the splendid work of

Mr Evans in connection with Returned Soldiers over the years since the termination of the war, hearty applause endorsing the sentiments expressed.

ANZAC CONCERT

The Anznc Day proceedings were brought to a' conclusion last evening with a o-.ru.nd concert in Prince's Theatre arranged in aid of the funds of the Returned Soldiers’ Association. ’The programme was provided by a contingent from Greymonth who supplied a very enjoyable entertainment, of good variety. In Sthc first half the performers were heartily recalled on each appearance, the elocutionary numbers by Mr 15. G. May being specially well received, and a second recall was demanded. In the second half the programme was equally good but as the hour was getting late recalls were not demanded. In an interval Mr W. E. Brown announced the result of the baby contest, and later in returning thanks, expressed appreciation of the splendid entertainment given by the performers, stating that

| this year the Association had decided to give local performers a respite and, I thanks to the kind efforts of Messrs | Moss and Bu ll of Crcyinonth they had I been enabled to present the very fine j programme that had been given and I which had given them all such decided pleasure. He asked those present- to mark their appreciation by, acclamation.

The programme consisted of violin duets by Aliases Cecilia Keating and Teresa MtrSherry, soprano solos py Airs \Y. Cogswell, elocutionary items by

Mr R. G. Afav and Miss Adria Bush, contralto solos by Airs C. E. Roach and Airs Isabel Alori’ow, violin solos by Miss Aril-dred Coburn, baritone solos by Air Jack Boucher and trombone solos by Air Leo Carruthcrs. The accompanists for the evening were Aliss Moira AlcSherry and Aliss Agynnio Millar. The National Anthem concluded the gathering. Before the visitors- left for Greymcuth they were entertained at supper at the Soldiers’ Hall.

ANZAC DAY IN AUSTRALIA

SPECTACULAR COMMEMORATION.

Australian Press Association.)

SYDNEY, April 25

The Anzac Day commemoration began at dawn when, under grey clouds and cold drizzling rain, several thousand people gathered at the cenotaph ill Martin Place, fronting the General Post Office. Governor Game, Premier Stevens, and Federal Minister of Health, Major Marr, headed a march of the Australian Legion, and the Governor deposited a wreath Lem the Legion. A brief religious service followed, and as the people slowly filed past the cenotaph, many, laid wreaths thereon.

The main spectacular commemoration was witnessed when from fifteen to twenty thousand ex-servicers began a march through the city, past the cenotaph and to the Domain where a united religious service took place. Exnaval men headed the procession, followed by the Light Horse, New Zealanders, and detachments, large and small, of all the various Australian army units, South African veterans auQ Old Lontemptibles, with the GovernorGeneral marching in the van, and Canadians and veterans of other campaigns. The streets were lined with many thousands of people, and a great concourse participated in the Domain service, which was attended by the Governor-General, leading public men and officials. Afterwards there were other brief services at the cenotaph, including one in which New Zealand soldiers placed a wreath on the memorial, and Mr Blow placed a wreath on behalf of the New Zealand Government. Commemoration services were also held in suburban and country centres.

Almost at the moment when the notes of the reveille were sounding, as the day broke at the cenotaph, three ex-soldiers died at Randwick Alilitafy Hospital.

MELBOURNE, April 26

Simple, impressive services, in cold starlight, marked the Anzac commemorations here early this morning.

MESSAGE TO “OLD COMRADES.”

AVELLTNGTON, April 24,

The following warm message from Uganda, north of Lake Victoria, Africa, to his late comrades lias reached the Minister of Defence, Mr Cobbe, from Lieut-General Sir Aylmer Hun-ter-Weston of Huntcrston, who commanded the 29th Division at Gallipoli: “To his old comrades in arms in Australia and in New Zealand, the old Commander of the 29th Division and of the Bth Army Corps, sends greetings and best wishes. lam at present in the middle of Africa ton a strenuous but most interesting semiomcial tour i have, tkereioro, neitheir time nor opportunity to say to our capable and trusty comrades in arms ot tlie Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (A.N.Z.A.C.), all i would wish to say on my own behalf and on behalf of the hath Division’s association, of which 1 have the honour to be President. All 1 need say, and winit you will best like to hear is that your gallant deeds and your trusty comradeship are never forgotten by us. They will ever be present in our minds and memories, and are outwardly celebrated at the Cenotaph in Whitehall on every anniversary of that achievement of the 'impossible, the original landings on Gallipoli Peninsula. Your old comrade, Aylmer Hunter-Weston. ’ ’

MARSHAL BIRDWOOD’S MESSAGE.

WELL ING ON, April 24

Mr G. W. Forbes, has been advised bv the High Commissioner of his receipt of the following Anzac Day message by Marshal Birdwood: “Please convey my sincere and hearty greetings to all my old comrades of New Zealand. I know none of us can ever forget our long days together, and I do sincerely hope prosperity may shortly come the way of all. illy sincere greetings also to the people of New Zealand.

LONDON COMM EM ORAT!ON

LONDON, April 24

Mr S. Bruce read the Lesson, and 'Rev. G. R. Bennett, fermerlv of Hamilton, New Zealand, preached at the Air/.ae Day service at Saint Clement Dane’s, at' ■which a New Zealander, Miss Eunice Meredith was soloist, and a a Sydneyite, Mr Arthur Mason, was pianist. The congregation included Miv-shal Birdwood, Sir Tan Hamilton, ami the Ageuts-Geiieral. Air Bruce placed a wreath on the Ohurrli’s shrine of remembrance on boiuilf of the Com-

unojmvca'lh, .and 'Hal. Williams on j behalf of New Zealand, owing to Sir IT. Wilford’s absence at Geneva, Aiterwards in the presence of representatives of the British and French Army and Navy, Sir lan Hamilton placed a wreath on the cenotaph on behalf or the Empire Service League ■ Mr Bruce on behalf of the Commonwealth; Sir Cecil Romer on behalf of the War Office; Colonel E. F. Lascelles on behalf jof New Zealand; Mrs Hal Williams on ! behalf of the Auckland branch of the Mothers’ Union. The day was also commemorated at Working, Harefiold and "Walton on Thames, where wreaths were placed on the graves of" the Australians and New Zealanders. MESSAGE FROM HIS MAJESTY. WELLINGTON, April 25. The Deputy Governor lias bo°n commander! by the King to communicate jto the people of New Zealand on the j occasion of Anznc Day, llio following | message from His Majesty: “On Anj zac Dev, the Queen and J join my 'people in New Zealand in commemoreI lion of the glorious dead—George jR,.1.” ! Tlis Excellency has sent the follow- ! ing renlv; “Your Majesty’s people in ; New Zealand deeply appreciate your j gracious message and the krowlorpv thaL the thoughts of Your Majesty a"d | l,n .Queen a”e associated with them in their commemorative services on Anzac ;Da v. Micl.-el Myers. Dentil v Gmerl mm General ’’