ANZAC SERVICE

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 175, 28 April 1939, Page 1

ANZAC SERVICE

CAPT. KIRKPATRICK’S ADDRESS The following address was given by Gapt. Kirkpatrick at the Anzac service on Tuesday, in the' Regent Hall : “We have gathered this afternoon to pay our tribute and! respect to that great body of men and women who comprised the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, more commonly known to us as the Anzacs. irrespective of colour, class, or creed, they willingly gave their services, and in many cases their lives, for their King and country. They were men of courage and conviction, who believed in liberty and freedom and not in the doctrine that might was right. For their convictions they were prepared to suffer and undergo all the horrors of war. They were brave men, seeking- not their own glory but- gladly aiid willingly giving their services for what they believed was a Avar to end war. There are two Avords that stand out and impress thomscßes upon our hearts and minds—the Avords ‘ScrA'ice’ and ‘Sacrifice’. Let us think for a feAV moments about service, for service Avas the keynote of their lives. They heard the call to service and in many and varied Avays one and all sought to serve. Their sendee iinvolved sacrifice, and it involved leaving trades, professions, and positions. It also involved leaving home and loved ones, and going ont to experience all the horrors and discomforts of Avar. When avc think; of the danger of shot and shell and! men surrounded by dead and dying, their service Avas a< glorious serA’iee.

“Let me say here a Avoid of praise to the doctors and nurses who Avorked all hours under trying conditions —sometimes to the limit of human endurance—toi allcAbnte pain and suffering. We honouri'them for their distinguished service. We have the Official Gazette of Victoria' Cross AA'inners but there 1 are thousands of heroic men and women aa’lio performedi outstanding deeds of seiwice lor King and Cbuntry, and their actions the world is ignorant of: hut there is a record in the hook ol remembrance. Everyone sought and each gave his best realising that we Avere relying on them do do their hit. We honour and thank God 'Tor all tvlio served. Now a Averd about .sacrifice.

The Avord means the giving up of something for another. Some time ago X came across a striking illustration of sacrifice. A bomb instructor AA'as grving instructions regarding the handling nndl throAving of Mills bombs. A bomb Avas accidentally dropped. Immediately the instructor called to the ■men to scatter and throwing himself on the bomb took the full force of the explosion— rSEfcrificed himself for his comrades. . . “The Anzacs gave, their lives for us. They sacrificed health, .strength, and even life itself -in an * endeaA-oiir to bring Peace on earth. Me honour the dead for their service and sacrifice and avc think of them to-day as they lie buried! in Flanders’ fields and on Gallipoli, and. we thank God for them. “Many efforts have been made and are being .made to-day for Peace, The trouble is not Avith the nation, but Avith the individual. Like the little hoy playing Avith the jig-saAV puzzle and after trying many times to solve it Avas' about to give up. His father noticed that one .side of the puzzle represented the Avorld) and the other side a picture of a man. Xoav Son,’ saifl his father. ‘Get the man, right and the Avorld trill come' right.’ Get the individual right and the world trill be right,, and it is only tvhon men and women. get back to God. and live as He At'ould have them live, that we shall have Peace and goodtvill on earth. One of the great things that came out of t-lie Avar tvas the great bond and spirit of friendship, and this bond of friendship has been maintained and developed by the Returned Soldiers’ Association tvlio have done splendid tvork for the returned men. “In conclusion. Let us value the Peace so dearly purchased by service and sacrifice and strive to do all in our poAver to preserve it.”