DAWN PARADE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 April 1940, Page 4

DAWN PARADE

MARCH ON ANZAC DAY IN WELLINGTON MAJOR S. FLETCHER, M.C., TO COMMAND. 1. e I PLANS FOR IMPRESSIVE I- CEREMONY. e 11 r Gn Anzac Day. Thursday n next, the twenty-fifth anni0 versary of the Battle of the J, Landing at Gallipoli, and an 1 anniversary which eomineme orates also the achievements and sacrifices of Australians and Now Zealanders in ail theatres of the Great War, a ’■ Dawn Parade is to be held in Wellington. The occasion wiir’ 1 n be more than national since representatives of British c countries around the Pacific j seaboard will take part. Thousands of returned soldiers aiml S members of the public attended the first .Dawn Parade held in Wellington e a year ago, and it is expected that 3 there will again be an attendance of “ thousands on Thursday. The organising of the parade has been undertaken ’ by the Australian A.I.F. Association in 1 Wellington, and the honorary secretary of that association, Mr T. H. Ash--3 ton, assisted by a committee, has made 1 complete arrangements. 3 The parade will be commanded by s Major Stanley F’.el'ffier. M.C.. of Mas’terton, a former A.I.F. officer. The returned soldiers will be organised in sections, eight abreast and 30 deep, ! each section being under the charge of a marshal. The assembly, at 5 a.m., is to extend south towards the Railway Station from the intersection of Featherston Street and Bunny Street. Men .■ are to fall in as they arrive, irrespeci tive of units, and the parade is to move off at 5.15 a.m. on its march to the War Memorial. Throughout the march , and until a return is made after the service, all proceedings will be in silence, no orders being given. Major Fletcher, accompanied by the ■ marshal in charge. Mr J. H. James, ■ will march at the head of the column, ■ followed by the Hon W. Perry, M.L.C., president of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, Mr L. , A. Robb, C.M.G., president of the New , South Wales branch of the Returned Sailors' and Soldiers’ Imperial League of Australia, and representing the Federal president of the league (Sir Gilbert Dyett), and Major-General Sir Andrew Russell, who commanded the First New Zealand Division in France. Next will come the standardbearers carrying the flags of the A.I.F. Association, the N.Z.R.S.A., the Wellington R.S.A., the Ex-Naval Men’s Association, and the Old Contemptibles’ Association. Returned nurses will follow behind the standards, and then will come the wreath-bearers, the executive officers of the local associations, and visiting delegates, and the rank and file. "VzThe men will form up before the memorial and the Prime Minister (the Hon P. Fraser), Cabinet Ministers, and the Bishop of Wellington (the Rt Rev H. St Barbe Holland) will take their places on the steps. Boy Scouts will hand programmes of the service to those taking part, and by the time everything is ready 5.45 a.m. will probably have been reached, and at that hour a field gun in Parliament Grounds will fire a blank charge. The service that is to follow the dawn will be similar to that held a year ago. The Tramways Band will provide music for the hymns, Professor James Shelley will pronounce the Anzac dedication, wreaths from the A.I.F. Association and the N.Z.R.S.A. will be placed by the Prime Minister on either side of the door to the Shrine of Remembrance, a short address will be delivered by Bishop Holland, and the Hon W. Perry will deliver a brief message to the fighting forces. The “Last Post” will be sounded by buglers from the Cadet Battalion of the Southland Regiment, “Reveille” by trumpeters under Trumpet-Major F. C. Chegwin, and Caledonian Society drummers will give the roll of drums. At the conclusion of the service the parade will march past and salute the memorial, and members of the public are asked to remain in silence while this tribute to the dead is being paid. The parade will return to BunnyStreet and as soon as the dismissal is given coffee will be ready in the concourse of the Railway Station. Helpers from Toe H, the A. and A. Club, and the Wellington R.S.A. will be in charge at the station. A number of returned soldiers from the Wairarapa will be taking part in the Dawn Parade and complete arrangements have been made for their transport.