GALLANT ARRAY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 April 1938, Page 7

GALLANT ARRAY

PARADE OF SIXTY THOUSAND ANZACS GREAT DAY IN SYDNEY NEW ZEALANDERS HEAD MARCH By Telegraph—Press Association. Copyright. SYDNEY, April 25. The city today was converted into a vast parade ground for men and memories. A people little given to homage offered it gladly to 60,000 marching men—veterans all of that Anzac brotherhood which in the retrospect of twenty-three years has come to seem the nation’s noblest fellowship. It was an Anzac army in the true sense of the word —a cavalcade that brought together for the first time since the war veterans both of Australia and New Zealand.

Before the procession the maimed and crippled rode in cars, the crowds greeting them with full hearts. Marching twelve abreast, thousands upon thousands of men swung into the city from the direction of the domain, passing the Cenotaph and marching back to the domain, where a united religious service was conducted.

In the van strode New Zealand’s contingent of 1400, led by Major-General Sir Andrew Russell. They were a fine type who marched in perfect rhythm with heads thrown well back, exciting the admiration of the dense crowds all along the route. There were all sorts and conditions of men and sharp contrasts in ages in the parade. Some were prosperous looking, the majority reasonably secure, others in poverty or near to it, yet proud of their equality in the hardship they had suffered for the nation. Eighty per cent of the men wore decorations and were justly proud of them. It is estimated that more than half a million people crowded the sidewalks and watched and cheered the greatest reunion of ex-servicemen since the war. The weather when the parade began was sunny, but later it was dull and sultry.

Two elderly diggers collapsed during the march and died, while 350 were compelled to drop out. Some 1500 persons fainted along the route. Three hundred thousand men and women in the Domain stood shoulder to shoulder with bowed heads and offered prayers for the men who had not returned. The Very Rev G. C. Cruikshank, Dean of St Paul's, Dunedin, conducted the service, which ended with the “Reveille,”' the “Last Post,” and National Anthem. Dean Cruikshank’s commemoration address was brief and simple. “To-day we honour all who gave their lives for an ideal,” he said. “The message of Anzac should give us a spiritual jolt. Sacrifice is the keynote of today’s ideal. Let us pledge ourselves to try to bring back in a practical way to the weary world some of the spirit of comradeship of the war.” Fifty thousand gathered in Martin Place in the vicinity of the Cenotaph which was literally covered in wreaths and flowers for the dawn memorial service. Here again 200 collapsed, including four visiting New Zealanders. It was a simple, touching ceremony, lasting half an hour and awakening memories of great deeds by the men of the sister Dominions and affording still another opportunity for homage to the heroic dead.

It was officially announced at the close of the march which marks the end of the 150th anniversary celebrations, that the parade totalled 60,000 men, who took two hours to pass a given point 12 abreast. The city tonight was thronged with jovial Anzacs and sailors, their merry voices, exclamations of greetings, hilarity and war songs being heard on all sides, creating a hubbub that will be long remembered by the civilian population. DAWN PARADE MELBOURNE OBSERVANCES MELBOURNE, April 25. The Anzac commemoration began at dawn when 5000 soldiers assembled at the Shrine of Remembrance for the annual service Long before daylight groups of men began to assemble in hushed reverence. A solitary light burned at the top of the shrine. At zero hour the light was extinguished and the “Last Post” sounded. Two minutes silence followed and the dawn ceremony was over. Silently the vast group dispersed to prepare for the afternoon march and ceremony. Twenty-two thousand men, watched by a crown of 75,000. marched in the city streets again to the shrine, where the commemoration service was held There has been much controversy this year over the changed form of the service, from which the Returned Soldiers’ League had eliminated certain religious features, thus causing many Church leaders to declare that the ceremony was unchristian. The Anglican Archbishop, the Most Rev F. W. Head, took part in the march, but dropped out before the shrine was reached. On the other Jiand the Catholic Church, which in other years was not represented at the service, urged its adherents to attend. The climax of the ceremony was marred by a violent dust storm, followed by rain.

PLEDGE OF KINSHIP FEDERAL PRIME MINISTER’S MESSAGE CANBERRA, April 25. Paying a tribute to the courage and sacrifices of the Anzacs, the Prime Minister, Mr J. A. Lyons, in an Anzac Day message, declared: “At this time, when defence has of necessity become the first preoccupation of every unit of the British Commonwealth of Nations, the presence of veterans of the valiant New" Zealand Division is not merely a sacred historical reminder but a pledge of that kinship which assures the close cooperation of the two British communities of the South Pacific in any eventualities which may threaten their national integrity.” SERVICE IN LONDON WREATHS LAID BY HIGH COMMISSIONER LONDON, April 24. The High Commissioner for New Zealand, Mr W. J. Jordan, attended the Twenty-ninth Division’s memorial service at Holy Trinity Church, Eltham, and presented a poppy wreath from the Government and people of New Zealand.