DAY OF REMEMBRANCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 April 1938, Page 9

DAY OF REMEMBRANCE

WELL ATTENDED GATHERING IN CARTERTON. (“Times-Age” Special.) For the afternoon Anzac Day ceremonies at Carterton the weather fortunately cleared and a fine period enabled the parade through the town to be held. Headed by the Pipe Band, nearly 120 returned soldiers, followed by the Legion of Frontiersmen and Wolf Cubs, marched to Memorial Square where the R.S.A. wreath was placed on the Cenotaph by Messrs A. T. Murray and D. Gibb Johnston, chairman and secretary respectively of the Carterton Branch of the R.S.A. The pipers then played a lament and the Last Post was sounded by two trumpeters. Mr A. T. Murray was in charge of the parade. The Tivoli Theatre was packed for the memorial service at which the address was given by Mr G. G. Hancox, M.A., B.Sc., Principal of Wairarapa College. His Worship the Mayor (Mr D. L. Taverner) presided. WAIRARAPA’S CONTRIBUTION. It was an honour, Mr Hancox said, to address, such a meeting in the Wairarapa, x a district which had not only made a splendid contribution of men to the New Zealand forces, but which also had contributed such a generous measure of hospitality to the trainees in Featherston and Tauherenikau camps during the war years. He recalled, for the benefit of the younger generation, conditions and events leading up to the Great War and how splendidly the Dominions came to the assistance of Great Britain when called upon to help. New Zealand’s part was no small one. From here 124,000 men went to the war, 17,000 were killed or died of wounds and sickness, and some 40,000 were wounded. After the war, came the problem of rehabilitation; then the task of trying to ensure some permanent degree of peace, a task in which Great Britain led by wholesale disarmament. So, too, did the British Empire support the League of Nations. Today other measures had been forced on our leaders, but there was still hope of a more adequate League of Nations working for permanent peace. “On such a day as Anzac Day,” said Mr Hancox, “we should feel proud of being New Zealanders and of being members of the British Empire. But that pride brought responsibilities—responsibilities due to the heritage that ■was ours.” Did the men of Anzac die in vain? asked the speaker. That depended on the superstructure we were building on the blood of the fallen. There were obligations placed on the people of this day and generation—obligations to prevent the causes of war, to show cheerfulness in adversity, to show courage in the problems of life, to make sacrifices for the common good, to apply to “Golden Rule” in all our dealings. “If we did those things, ,if we carried out those obligations, we would supply the answer as to whether the men of Anzac died in vain,” stated Mr" Hancox in conclusion. “Those ideals should be our contributions and if we had faithfully carried them out then we could say with Laurence Binyon — They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old, Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn; At the going down of the sun, and in the morning “We will remember them.” The hymns “Our God, our Help in Ages Past,” “Recessional,” “Peace, Perfect Peace,” and “Lead, Kindly Light,” were sung to the accompaniment of the Carterton Municipal Band under the baton of Conductor J. Harris. The Lesson was read by Lieut. Bramwell Harewood (Salvation Army) and the Prayer and Benediction were taken by the Rev. J. W. Stent (Anglican). The service ended with the playing of “Land of Hope and Glory” (Edgar) by the Band and “Reveille” by two trumpeters. Following the service the parade marched to the Bandroom where afternoon tea was served to the men, visitors and bandsmen. In addition to many wreaths placed on the War Memorial by individuals and families to the memory of many of those killed in action, wreaths were presented by the following organisations: Carterton Branch R.S.A., Wairarapa Rugby Union, Women's Division of the Farmers’ Union, Carterton League of Mothers, Loyal Heart of Oak Lodge, Carterton WolE Cubs, Carterton District High School, Parkvale School (2 wreaths), Women’s Institute, Brownies Pack, Red Cross Workers, Waihakeke School. Several members of the Masterton R.S.A. led by Mr J. H. Irving attended the ceremony while soldiers from Greytown, Featherston and Martinborough were also present. AT THE CARTERTON SCHOOL. Yesterday morning at a special ceremony pupils at the Carterton District High School paid their homage on Anzac Day. Following the singing of the National Anthem the headmaster, Mr D. A. McPherson, introduced the principal speaker, Mr H. J. McKenzie. In explaining the significance of Anzac Day, Mr McKenzie simply and feelingly told the children of the fellowship of the trenches, how much

good comradeship meant in those difficult days and how the lessons of the war could help solve the problems of today. The hymn “Our God, Our Help in Ages Past” was sung and the Rev. J. iW. Stent led the gathering in prayer and pronounced the Benediction. After the service at the school the children marched to the Cenotaph in Memorial Square and there deposited a wreath “In memory of the Fallen.” Mr A. T. Murray (branch chairman) and several members of the Carterton Branch of the R.S.A. attended the service. and marched with the children to Memorial Square. SERVICE AT GREYTOWN. CEREMONY IN TOWN HALL. (“Times-Age” Special.) Under the command of Captain H. G. Carter 40 returned soldiers led the Anzac Day parade at Greytown yesterday. Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, Wolf Cubs and Brownies also paraded with several uniformed members of the Greytown Fire Brigade. At the service in the Town Hall, presided over by His Worship the Mayor (Mr A. W. Horton), citizens attended in large numbers. Local ministers of religion, all of whom took part in the service, were present on the stage with. members of the Borough Council.

In opening his address, Captain H. G. Carter asked why Anzao’ Day was the occasion for such a celebration. “Because,” he said, “April 25, 1915, was really New Zealand’s baptism of fire in a major action; because on that day New Zealanders, Australians, in association with British troops landed on the barren shores of Gallipoli and together fought against a common foe.”

Since then Anzac Day was rightly commemorated as a Holy Day, a day when the nationhood of New Zealand was celebrated, a day when the younger Dominions came to the assistance of old England, he continued. Together with Britain and the other Dominions, New Zealand fought to secure peace, fought in a great unity for the sake of peace, a unity which was still working and fighting for peace. Those who went to the war, went not for the glory of war. There was no glory in war. There would be no glory in such devastation of human life and property. The heritage of Anzac was not in piling up millions for war purposes but with the help of God in our nation becoming ambassadors of war. The word “Digger” was a password and byword of one soldier to another. That was the beautiful aspect of war, the friendship of the trenches, a camaraderie which would fight against any ruthless enemy but yet would work in the interests of peace. Anzacs. said Captain Carter in conclusion, would never forget the heroic exploits of the British troops on Gallipoli nor the magnificent work of the Navy,, many midshipmen boys of which lost their lives in their daring work of assisting the land forces. To his audience he commended the cause of peace but yet the cause of war against any ruthless invader. The hymns “Our God, Our Help in Ages Past,” “What a Friend we Have in Jesus,” and “For All the Saints” were sung by the gathering while the lesson (Psalm 46) was read by the Rev. H. E. Harkness, a prayer was given by the Rev. Canon Sykes, and the closing prayer and Benediction was pronounced by the Rev. Karl P. Lilly. At the temporary Cenotaph erected outside the Town Hall (wreaths were deposited by the Greytown Branch of the R.S.A., Boy Scouts and Girl Guides. Members of the Carterton Branch of the R.S.A., led by Mr A. T. Murray (chairman) took part in the parade. The collection at the Anzac service yesterday amounted to £8 4s lid. Since then a further donation of £1 has been received. AT MARTINBOROUGH. The Anzac Day service was held in the Square, the Rev. F. O. Ball officiating. Returned soldiers, Guides and Scouts were among those present. A sum of £4 17s 6d was collected for the fund to provide headstones for soldiers’ graves in the Martinborough Cemetery. FEATHERSTON CELEBRATION. (“Times-Age” Special.) Heavy rain throughout the previous night and all day yesterday somewhat marred the celebrations From an early hour, wreaths were placed on the Soldiers Memorial, and by noon presented a solemn but beautiful sight. At nine o’clock the school,children were taken by cars to the Soldiers’ Cemetery, where each child placed a flag on the soldiers’ graves. His Worship the Mayor (Mr J. W. Card) delivered a short address. At 2.30 p.m., what is probably the largest crowd for a number of years assembled at the Anzac Hall, where the usual services were held. Mr Card gave an interesting address. The Rev Kershaw also spoke, and the Lessons were read by the Rev T. J. Holland and Rev H. E. Harkness. The playing of the Masterton Silver Band was excellent. After the service, 52 returned men, under the command of Mr H. Lawson (president of the local branch of the R.S A.) marched to the memorial, the band playing marches reminiscent of the war days. On arrival at the memorial, Mr Lawson placed the returned soldiers’ wreath, during which the ex-soldiers stood bare-headed, out of respect for their fallen comrades. After the parade of the returned

soldiers yesterday, Mr Lawson, president of the local branch of the R.S.A., read two cablegrams of greetings from members of the N.Z.R.S.A. men in Sydney. After the Anzac ceremony yesterday the Mayor and Mayoress, Mr and Miss Card, entertained a number of returned soldiers, councillors and friends to afternoon tea, and also the band, who played several selections on the lawn. Wreaths from every club and institution in Featherston were placed on the Soldiers’ Memorial. The Returned Soldiers’ wreath was again made by Mrs C. J. Carlyon.