REGIMENT PARADES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 338, 25 April 1928, Page 11

REGIMENT PARADES

THIRD AUCKLAND’S HISTORY About 700 strong of the. First Battalion Third Auckland Regiment paraded yesterday afternoon in honour of the fallen. In the ranks were 56 veterans, under Sergeant-Major Davoy, D.C.M. At the Cenotaph a wreath was laid on the steps by Private Turtill, the best first-year recruit. The parade was in charge of Lieu-tenant-Colonel T. H. Dawson, C.M.G., C.8.E., officer commanding the regiment, Captain J. G. C. Wales, M.C., being staff officer. There were also present Lieutenant-Colonel W. C. Sinel, D. 5.0., Major N. L. Macky, M.C., and Padre McDonell. Tradition of the regiment was the subject of an address given at the parade ground by Lieutenant-Colonel Dawson. In the Great War it had won no fewer than, three V.C.’s, Lieutenant R. S. Judson earning the award at Bapaume on August 26, 1918; Private James Crichton, at Crevecourt, on September 30, 1918; and Sergeant .Samuel Forsyth, at Grevillers, on August 24, 1918. He was killed the same day. Eleven members of the regiment had merited D.S.O.’s, Colonels R. C. Allen, D. B. Blair and W. Alderman (now of Sydney), Lieutenant-Colonels W. C. Sinel, A. G. McKenzie and S. S. Allen, Majors C. H. McClelland, E. H. Grr and Duthie, and Captains P. A. Ardagh and Vercoe. There were 58 Military Crosses to the credit of the regiment, the Prime Minister, Mr. Coates, gaining one, and Major J. A. Wallingford another. Major N. L. Macky and Captains R. Tilsey, J. G. C. Wales and Lieutenant C. F. Seaward, who were still with the regiment, also had that decoration. In addition the regiment had 21 D.C.M.’s and 248 Military Medals. Chaplain-Captain T. Halliday spoke on the spirit of sacrifice and Major Wallingford on experiences of the war.

ADDRESSES AT SCHOOLS Addresses on the significance of Anzac Day were given at the following schools on Tuesday by speakers nominated by the R.S.A.: Newmarket, Mr. M. R. Reed; Stanley Bay, Mr. E. Napier; Normal School, Major G. E. .Simeon; Devonport, Captain Currey; Bayfield, Mr. E. C. Lewis; Papatoetoe, Mrs. C. S. Seaward; St. Heliers, Mr. A. G. Quartley; Beresford Street, Mr. B. Hart; Kohimarama and Meadowbank, Dr. P. O’Shannessey; New Lynn, Mr. McCorkindale: Ponspnby, Mr. A. C. A. Sexton; Greenhithe, Mr. Dark; Grafton, Mr. E. H. Sharpe; Massey-Birdwood and Oratia, Captain W. Potter; Otahuhu, Mr. K. C. Jorgensen; Ellerslie, the Rev. H. K. Vickery; Northcote Junior High School, Lieut.-Colonel E. H. Northcroft; Northcote primary school, the Revs. W. Gilmour and S. L. Boot and Mr. R. Martin. An address was given by Mr. T. Long at Edendale School yesterday morning. Children’s Services . In the afternoon a special service for secondary school children was held in the Town Hall. Mr. Sinclair Reid, president of the Auckland Returned Soldiers’ Association, presided. t The service, which was attended by nearly 3,000 pupils, was short but inspiring in its simplicity. After the singing of the National Anthem, hymns were sung, and the lessons were read by the Revs. W. Lawson Marsh and W. W. Averill. The speaker was the Rev. G. C. Cruiekshank, who addressed the pupils on the subject of service. “Too many of us are inclined to make out the Anzacs to be a sort of super-men,” Mr. Cruiekshank said. “They were nothing of the kind. The Anzacs were ordinary men who did their duty. Most of them hated war, which was obnoxious to them. Because it was obnoxious to them all the more honour is due that they did their duty and did it nobly. We are too inclined to put them on*a pedestal.

“I do not think for one moment it was their facing of death that wins our greatest admiration, for they were reconciled to that before they left, but it was the heroic way they faced terrible discomfort. This they did to save us.” • King’s College Service In the darkness of the chapel, with the Lamp of Remembrance throwing a single gleam on to the bronze roll of honour, the boys of King’s College spoke the lines of Lawrence Benyon’s threnody last night. Then the 108 names of the fallen were read by Mr. C. T. Major, late headmaster of the school. Still in the darkness, the Last Post rang out, breaking the minute’s silence, and the chapel was once again flooded with light. It was a remarkably impressive service. Hundreds of old boys, present scholars and parents attended to commemorate the sacrifice of the fallen. The headmaster, Canon H. K. Archdall, spoke upon the subject of faith in its relation to the philosophy of life. Training College Service Past and present students of the Auckland Training College and parents of students who fell in the war assembled in the college library, in remembrance of the fallen . After the reading of the roll of honour by the principal, Mr. H. G. Cousins, Mr. J. W. Shaw gave an*address on “The Spirit of Anzac.” The lessons were read by Mr. R. A. Falla and Mr. R. T. Henderson. After the service, a portrait of the late Mrs. Milnes, wife of Mr. H. A. E. Milnes, a former principal of the college, who died in the war, was unveiled in the college hall. The unveiling ceremony was perfonnd by Miss Wilks, who was one of the first prefects at the college. Avondale Boy Scouts, school children, members of the fire brigade, and Oddfellows and Rebekah lodges, and school children, paraded at Avondale, led by the Avondale Band. The parade ended at the Town Hall, where the speakers were the Revs. A. Drake, Anglican: F. A. Thompson, Presbyterian; C. Jordan. Methodist; and A. Firth, Baptist.

SUBURBAN SERVICES Onefaunga The Foresters’ Theatre, Onehunga, was completely filled yesterday morning at the Anzac service, held by th combined churches and presided ever by the Rev. C. F. R. Harrison, vicar of the Royal Oak Church. On the platform also were the Revs. F. E. Leadley, H. M. Smyth, M.A.. and D. D. Scott. Messrs. W. J. Jordan, M.P., and the Mayor and councillors of Onehunga. Strong contingents of Scouts and. Girl Guides marched in procession to the hall. Mr. W. E. Vickery gave a short address from the text. “Let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.‘” Mr. H. J. Hill sang “If With All Youi* Hearts”; Miss B. Smith and Mr. L. E. Smith rendered the duet, "For Ever With the Lord,” Mr. H. W. Clegg acting as accompanist. The impressive service closed with the National Anthem.

Devonport At Devonport, the Mayor, Mr. E. Aldridge, laid an official wreath on the war memorial, in the morning, on behalf of the citizens of the borough. In the evening the Victoria Theatre was crowded for the commemorative set - vice, which was attended by all the Scout and Girl " Guide groups, the Friendly Societies and representatives of the local bodies. The Rev. J. F. Martin tookyis liis subject, “A Name for the Nameless; the Mayor spoke on the “Inspiration of Anzac Day.” Miss Phyllis Gribbon rendered the solos, and the “Last Post” was sounded by StaffSergeant T. S. Power. The Revs. M. B. Wingfield, W. Lawson Marsh and A. M. Niblock assisted with the service. Papakura The Papakura service was in the morning, at the war memorial, where the Rev. W. C. Wood delivered the address, and a collection was made for the War Memorial Park. Titirangi A special service was held at Titirangi at the Soldiers’ Memorial, where the Rev. W. P. Rankin and the Rev. H. R. Jecks were the speakers. Northcote The Northcote service was in the evening, at Onewa Theatre. Church choirs combined, and the addresses were given by the Rev. T. Halliday, and Major G. R. Hutchinson. The Revs. T. Southworth, Anglican; J. H. Allen, Methodist; and S. L. Boot, Presbyterian, officiated. Takapuna A parade to the Foresters’ Hail preceded the Takapuna service. The Mayor, Mr. J. W. Williamson, presided, the address was given by the Rev. S. J. Atkins, and Canon Young and the Revs. W. C. Monckton and Morgan Richards assisted. Birkenhead The Birkenhead service was held in the Civic Reserve yesterday afternoon, before a large assembly. The Mayor, Mr. E. G. Skeates, was in the chair, and addresses were given by the Rev. J. H. Allen, and Mr. R. B. Spiers for the Returned Soldiers’ Association. The Mayor read a Scripture reading from the 90th Psalm. A combined choir, under the conductorship of Mr. J. H. Wood, led. the singing. The Mayoress, Mrs. E. G. Skeates, sang “Lead, Kindly Light.” At the conclusion of the service, a Wreath of Remembrance was placed on the memorial by the Mayoress, and other wreaths from lodges and Friendly Societies were also placed there. Ellerslie A largely-attended service was held in the Ellerslie Presbyterian Church. The Rev. F. E. Hill gave an addrecs on the memory and meaning of Anzac. A special choir rendered Kipling’s “Recessional,” and Mr. P. Taylor sang very impressively “Crossing the Bar.” The “Dead March” was played at the conclusion of the service. Two beautiful ■wreaths were laid on the communion table, in memory of the fallen. Papatoetoe The Papatoetoe Town Hall was crowded yesterday morning, when the Anzac Day service was held. The Rev. A. Mitchell delivered the address.; Mr. A. W. Hall Others who took part in the service were Revs. P. C. Davis, A. W. Silviste.r, T. 11. Roseveare and Fred Greenwood. East Tamaki A large number of the residents of the East Tamaki and Flat Bush districts gathered at the soldiers’ memorial, East Tamaki, yesterday afternoon to take part in the Anzac memorial services. Canon Mason conducted the service and was assisted by the Revs. T. H. Roseveare and Fred Greenwood. Manurewa A combined service attended by Residents and school children of Manurewa district was held at the soldiers’ memorial yesterday afternoon. Howick A large congregation was present at the soldiers’ memorial on Stockade Hill yesterday morning to take part in thq observance of Anzac Day. A procession of returned soldiers and friendly societies marched from the Oddfellows’ Hall to the monument. IN OTHER CENTRES (From Our Own Correspondent) Hamilton’s Tribute Over 6,000 people hallowed the memory of the Gallipoli heroes at a special memorial service in Soldiers’ Memorial Park this morning. It was one of the largest and most impressive assemblies held here for many years Headed by the Waikato Regimental and Hamilton Municipal Band, a procession consisting of veterans of the Great War and the South African War, territorials, pipe band, senior cadets, girl guides and boy scouts marched to the park. On the platform opposite the Cenotaph the Mayor, councillors, military officers and clergy conducted the service. In the midst of a tense silence following the sounding of “The Last Post,” the vast crowd bared their heads while two huge wreaths were presented at the foot of the column. An inspiring address was given by the Rev. H. G v Gilbert, a chaplain of H.M. Forces during the landing.

The services included the singing of three hymns, a prayer offered by Pastor Salisbury, a selection by the band, and the pronunciation of the Benediction by Dean Barnett. There was a large attendance at the memorial service held by the Salvation Army in the Town Hall this evening. Whangarei Tlie memorial service was very largely attended. The Mayor, Mr. L. J. Brake, presided, and the address was given by the Rev. S. J. Campbell. Subsequently there was a parade of all the military units, headed by members of the Empire Ex-service Association and followed by cadets. Boy Scouts and Girl Guides. Numerous wreaths were laid at the memorial.

Tauranga Anzac Day was observed in ideal weather conditions. The Rev. Mr. Mail addressed a large assembly of children in the Town Hall in the morning, and at two o’clock a procession of returned soldiers, territorials, cadets, veterans. Boy Scouts, Girl Guides and firemen, headed by the Municipal Band, marched to the Town Hall, which was tilled to overflowing:. The memorial address was given by the Rev. Mr. Simpson, other clergymen taking part in the ceremony. A large number of beautiful wreaths were placed on the Cenotaph. Huntly Service An impressive memorial service was held at the Cenotaph under the auspices of the Town Board and Returned Soldiers’ Association. Headed by the Huntly Silver Band, the returned men paraded wearing medals and decorations, and marched to the memorial, where suitable hymns were sung and addresses given by the Rev. J. W. Robinson (Anglican). M. Gibb (Presbyterian) and Hindmarsh (Methodist). The proceedings closed with the I sounding of the Last Post and the singing of the National Anthem. Ngaruawahia The Anzac Day memorial service in the Town Hall was attended by a record crowd, and included 450 men of the Waikato Mounted Rifles under the command of Colonel R. Wyman, D.S.O. The Mayor, Mr. H. J. Sampson, presided. The Rev. A. R. Robinson gave the address and offered prayers, and the lesson was .read by the Rev. J. Belshaw. A choir and special orchestra rendered appropriate hymns. At the conclusion of the service the Municipal Band played the troops and returned soldiers to the Cenotaph, whjere wreaths were laid, and the Last Post was sounded.

Palmerston North The Anzac Day service was attended by over 5,000 people. The weather was threatening but fine. An impressive service was rendered by the Rev. C. Walls, of Wellington, and a parade of veterans, returned men. territorials, cadets and scouts took place, after which many wreaths were laid at the foot of the war memorial Christchurch At the Anzac Day celebrations today, 3,600 troops paraded, also 400 returned soldiers of the Great War,

and 45 veterans of other wars. A special service was held in the barracks. at which about 8.000 were present. Other services were held at the secondary schools and in the churches. Dunedin Rain sot in this afternoon, just prior to the big parade through the cit> . to the drill hall, where an Anzac T>»y commemorative service was held. The attendance was very large. Services I were also held in all city and suburban churches, and in several of the schools A memorial tablet was unveiled at the University.