GALLIPOLI LEGION

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 416, 24 April 1937, Page 5

GALLIPOLI LEGION

Preserving Identity Of Anzacs. Because “most people think every New Zealand and Australian soldier is an Anzac,” the real Anzacs of Australia are banding together in the Gallipoli Legion of Anzacs and hope to have branches in New Zealand

within the next 12 months, states a southern exchange. The aim of the Gallipoli Legion is to preserve the identity of the Anzacs and perpetuate the comradeship of service. Membership is. confined to men who served on Gallipoli during 1915 as members of the Australian and New Z-aland Army Corps, and the most rigorous precautions are taken to ensure that no one other than genuine Anzacs shall wear the legion's badge —vertical s ripes of red, white and blue enamel, wih a gold crown above, and the letters “G.L." in gold superimposed on the colours. The Gallipoli Legion was established in Sydney about two years ago.

There are over one thousand members in New South Wales, and branches are being established in the other States of the Commonwealth. The legion pledges its loyalty 'to the Sovereign and the Empire. Its primary object is “to preserve and totter the Spirit of Anzac,” and ‘'to

perpetuate In civil life that comradeship that existed during service ” The patrons are Field Marshal Sir William Birdwood, commander of the Australian and New Z aland Army Corps on Gallipoli, General Sir lan Hamilton, Commander of the New Zealand and Australian Division, and General H. A. Goddard, Commander of the 17'th Battalion, A.I.F. Like all other military associations., the legion engages in welfare work on behalf of its members and their dependents. In Melbourne, the legion is organising a midnight gathering of Anzacs on April 24, in the drill hall at Al-

bert Park, preparatory to attending the dawn Anzac Day service at the Shrine of Remembrance. Later in the morning they will make a special pilgrimage to the statue of “The Man with a Donkey” in the Domain. The “Original Anzacs” have) their own special tree in the plantation leading up to the Shrine.