HONOUR OUR DEAD

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3256, 28 April 1943, Page 5

HONOUR OUR DEAD

REASON FOR ANZAC DAY

MR JAMIESON’S ADDRESS

COURAGE, SACRIFICE, SERVICE

“Under the law of Moses the Israelites were required to observe ■ yearly the Feast of the Passover. At certain stage of the proceedings the eldest son was called upon to stand up and ask of the head of the .family, “What mean ye by this service?” and the head of the family would then explain its significance. It would not 'be unfitting if the children here present rose up and asked of us elders, “What mean ye by this ■service?” We would say, “We mean that we have come to honour our dead,” were the opening remarks of Mr T. H. Jamieson in his address at the Anzac Day commemoration service held in Paeroa. Memory Of All Soldiers* Mr Jamieson contiriued: — “Yes, first and foremost we would say that we had come to honour the memory of all our soldiers who died on various battlefields in various parts of the world and while doing so to pay tribute to those of the other .armies who fought with us and are doing so- now. Wb would include all branches of the Services on land and and in the air, remembering also mercantile marine. Also, we should not and must not forget to include the members of the Nursing Services. The fallen in all sections of forces, both combatant and noncombatant, are remembered this day. It is to their sacrifice we owe the years of peace we. have enjoyed and our present immunity from the ravages of war. Story Of Gallipoli

“A. few days ago I was looking at some photographs of men who went overseas. These included faces of many who did not return and as I looked them over I was struck by the thought, ‘How young they were and how strong! How full of the joy of life!’ How dear to them life must have heen and what a sacrifice to lay it down. “To explain why this date has ~ been chosen and why the term ‘Anzac Day,’ we would tell of the landing of Australian and New Zealand forces -at Anzac Cove on April 25, Wl5, and how they achieved the almost impossible in storming the heights of Gallipoli. Wfe would say that this was not the first time New Zealand soldiers had gone to fight overseas but that more than a 4ecade earlier a force had gone to South Africa and it was fitting that representatives of that force were present with us today. While those who fell there lacked nothing of the courage, and while their sacrifice was equally deserving of remembrance, our country had not then grown to maturity. The terms ‘Anzac’ and ‘Anzac Day, are terms therefore that have come to symbolise what we mean by courage, sacrifice and service and the coming -of maturity of a nation. Trust Imposed Upon Us

“There is something more that we mean. We mean that a trust has been imposed upon us by those who have died.

“This has .been the theme of statesmen, orators and 4 poets, and I cannot do better than quote what Kipling has written about those we have •come to honour to-day. “From little towns in a far land we eame,

To save our honour and a world aflame. By httle towns in a far land we sleep,

[ And trust those things we won to you to keep.’ ’

( “What shall we say if the children ask us if we have kept the trust? If they ask then why the sound of the guns again to-day. If they ask if they must expect that in twenty years from now the mallet and chisel will again be produced to add their names to those already engraved on the tablets of stone? Another Tyrant Arises “Will it be sufficient to say that another tyrant has arisen to drench the world in a flood of the life blood of its peoples? This is a primary reason, but something must be added. “It is an unusual circumstance that Anzac Day should coincide with Easter Sunday this year. It has not happened before and is not likely to happen again in our time but the day reminds us that on the hill of Calvary the Son of God offered Himself a sacrifice for the freedom of the world. Has this sacrifice been accepted? I am afraid not.

Conflict Of To-day “I have a very great regard for my country. I served it before and, had age permitted, would have served it again. I cannot, however, be blind to its shortcomings and its follies. Many things are being done throughout the country and throughout the Empire which bring upon us the chastisement of God. Unless this is emphasised, and hammered home, we shall never understand His attitude towards the happenings in the world to-day. “ ‘Oh that My people had hearkened unto Me and Israel had walked in My ways. I should soon have subdued their enemies and turned My hand against their adversaries.’ This is the cry of God from His own Word. “Oh that New Zealand had walked in My ways! I wpuld soon have subdued her enemies and turned My hand against her adversaries!

“That is the’ challenge of this Eas-ter-Anzac Day of 1943. “In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea, With a glory in His bosum that transfigures you. and me. As he died to make men holy let us live to make men free, While God is marching on.” “What mean ye by this service? We mean that we honour the dead and offer comfort and consolation to their relatives still iiving. “We mean that a trust is imposed upon us to preserve what they have won. “If we would keep this trust we must take the chosen way of God, which is Christ of Calvary.”