NATION'S TRIBUTE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 70, 13 November 1931, Page 5

NATION'S TRIBUTE

■ (British Offlcial Wireless)

1^ armistice day W nMPRESSIYE CEREMQNY AT ■ 1 CENOTAPH IN ■ WHITEHALL B'OCUS OF WORLD'S THOUGHTS

I . .&UGBY, Wednesday. B With the passirig years the cele- ■ ration throughout Great Britain and le Empire of Armistice Day loses one of its reverence and completei ess to those for whom the war has ■; leffaceable memories. Another generation has been added, nd in the schools throughout the hnpire they joined to-day in the anual observance, which is no longer atipnal but international. • The form in which the anniversary ; celebrated has now become estabshed and, although in towns, viliges and churches individuaL serices are held, the ceremony at the 1 lenotaph in Whitehall remains the j oint on which all nations focussed j leir thoughts. ( Though there was genial sunshine 2 cold wind swept Whitehall, and the t [ing did not risk attending the cerelony at the Cenotaph. The Prince f Wales deputised for him and laid wreath at the base of the memor- ' il, also saluting the Cenotaph. There were again vast crowds in festminster and the service, held for j le thirteenth year, was broadcast t iroughout the Empire. The Queen ras present at a window overlooking le Cenotaph, at the foot of which £ tood the Prince of Wales, his brothL's, and the other members of the ,oyal Family, j Whole Empire Represented r The whole British Empire was rek resented at the service, among those | resent being the ruling Prineess of » idia, the Prime Minister, Mr. Ramay MacDonald, and the members of is Government. Mr. George Lansury, Leader of the Opposition, and

Be High Commissioners for the DoBinions. Representatives of the DeBrtments and of all branches of the Brvices, ex-service men and women, Bid the merchant and fishing fleets Bere also present. B The two minutes' silence began on Bie first stroke of Big Ben, which ynchronised with the firing of guns n the Horseguards' Parade. This molent of deep reverence was ended by he sounding of the "Last Post" by he trumpeters of the Royal Air 'orce, followed by the singing of the ymn, "0 God, Our Help in Ages 'ast," and the National Anthem, in vhich a great volume of voices join:d, led by a special choir and the lands of the Brigade of Guards. A brief service was conducted by he Bishop of London, followed by he trumpet notes of the "Reveille," fter which the immense crowds in Whitehall and the adjoining streets ilently dispersed or formed queues to ay their tribute of flowers at the oot of the Cenotaph. In eonnection with the sale of Handers poppies on behalf of the British Legion in London, everyone fom the King to the humblest subect to-day wore the emblem of renembrance.