THOUSANDS TAKE PART

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 533, 10 December 1928, Page 14

THOUSANDS TAKE PART

TOC H BIRTHDAY MESSAGES FROM DOMINION (United Service J Reed. 9 a.m. LONDON, Sunday. Ten thousand persons participated in thg Toe H birthday festival. It began with the Dean’s service in Westminster Abbey, which marched, headed by Lord Plumer and the Burgomaster of Ypres, 140 padres and 275 bannerbearers from branches all over the Empire. Afterwards the procession paraded past the Unknown Warrior’s tomb, and gathered at the Albert Hall in the evening, where Lord Forster, presiding, read his Majesty’s latest bulletin. The vast audience then rose and sang “God Save the King.” After that a semi-religious masque was presented, illustrating Toe H ideals, in which 800 costumed performers and a massed choir of 500 voices took part. Finally there was the solemn ceremony of lighting the lamps of remembrance, the festival concluding with Lord Davidson’s prayers. Lord Forster read out greetings from Melbourne, Sydney, Wellington and Chris tch urch. MESSAGE FROM QUEEN A message was sent to and a reply received from the Queen. Her Majesty said the King appreciated the kind thought of the Burgomaster of Ypres in recalling his gratitude at the time when the armies from Britain and from the Dominions rushed to Ypres and showed invincible resistance to the enemy. Lord Dawson arrived from the Palace at a dinner at Grosvenor House, Park Lane, in aid of the Princess Elizabeth Hostel for children. Lady Dawson presided. In proposing the toast of the King, Lord Dawson made a bright and witty speech. He announced at the close of the dinner that £15,000 had been collected, which together with other subscriptions made up the £25.000 for which an apjjeal had been made.