Fallen Soldiers

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 317, 17 June 1915, Page 5

Fallen Soldiers

A SERVICE AT ST. PAUL'S _ MEN 01.? DEEDS UNEQUALLED. ACHIEVEMENTS OF CIVILIANS. Received June lfi, 8.15 p.m. London, June 10. I lie memorial service to the colonials at fet. Paul's Cathedral was deeply impressive. There was a crowded congregation, which included relatives of "the dead and 400 Australian and New Zealand wounded men from Weymouth and Unrottnld Park. -Some wen' l on crutches, tome had _ limbs bandaged, and many ivci'e wearing hospital garments. Rows of khaki-clad soldiers filled the space under the done, and the Australian and New Zealand Hags were set above the th oir. t Lord Kintore represented the King and Colonel Steeathfield represented Queen Alexandra. Those present included:— Mr Bonnr Law (Sciwtary of State for the Colonies), Sir George and Lady Reid the Hon. Thomas and Mrs. Mackenzie (Agents-General), Lord Lincolnshire, Sir E. and Lady Barton. Admiral Gaunt, Lord Denman, Lady Patey, Lady Birdwood, Lord and Lady Buckley, Lord Ilaworth Booth, Lord Islington, Lord Plunket, Sir James Mills, Lord Nivison, l.oid and Lady ißiassey, Lord Tennvson, Lady Darnley, Lady Kings-Hall, Lady ffuttnji, the Marchioness of Linlithgow, Mi. Collins, Mr. iPalliser, Civil Servants, Imperial administrators, army and naval officers, business men and' the Lord Ma vor and sheriffs. The Dean of St. Paul's was assisted l>v the (Bishop of London. The service liegait with the hymn "Brief Life is here Our Portion," and after Psahns 23 and 130 the anthem (Spohr's) ''Blessed Departed" was rendered. The Rev. W. Besley, sub-dean, lately of New Zealand, read the lesson, " The raising of Lazarus," St. John 11. After the singing of the. hymn "Rock of Ages," a special Litany was intoned. The archbishop preached the sermon, taking as his text the thirteenth verse of the fifteenth chapter of St. John, 11 Orcater love hath no man than this: that a man lay down his life for his friend." The Archbishop said they mot for the very sacred purpose of thanking Qod for the splendid devotion of their brethren from Australia and New Zealand,_ whom, in the cause to which the Empire had set its hands, they loved not their lives to death. The feat of April 25 had never been outshone and seldom equalled. The picture of the perils of the landing and the dauntless gallantry of the ibrave men showed them storming the heights and holding on afterwards. Their deeds became part of the Empire's heritage for ever and they were deeds more, splendid and inspiring when it was remembered they were not the achievements of sonic veteran corps, but of men who a fow months before were civilians in the bush, on the sheep runs and in the townships of Australia and New Zealand. The archbishop continued: Who would have thought when the young nations were implanted in the ' southern seas that a hundred years later tliev would cross the seas, share in the Empire. burden of a 'world-wide war, be disciplined under the shadow ot the Pyramids and make their -first onset on the Plains of Troy? These things they had done. 'Fearful would be the cost, but the great roll of drums, and the Dead March to-night, would reverberate with the thanks of the Motherland to the farthest limits of the Empire. Cod give us grace to ibear ourselves as a united people, that we may build out of this welter of pain and strife a nobler habitation to which the honor and glory of every nation will add. something distinctive. The service closed with the hymn " Now the Laborer's Task is Over," which was sung kneeling. A military band played the Dead March in Saul, which was answered from the, end of the nave by the buglers giving the Last Post, and the National Anthem terminated the service. SPIRIT OF GREATER BRITAiN. ADMIRATION FOR THE COLONIALS. Received June 10, 11.40 p.m. London, June l(i. The Times, referring to the memorial service, says:."We hold the Australians and New Zealanders in special pride for the proof given that the spirit of Greater Britain is undiminished. Every ad vice from the Dardanelles only adds to our admiration for their audacious, constant, and steady valor under conditions of which the danger and difficulties are only beginning to be realised.