ANZAC BAY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 April 1941, Page 4

ANZAC BAY

CEREMONY AT MASTERTON PARK TWENTY-SIXTH ANNIVERSARY, TRIBUTE FROM GENERAL SIR lAN HAMILTON. The twenty-sixth Anzac Day memorial service will be held at the Soldiers’ Memorial, Masterton Park, at 10.50 a.m. on Friday. The service will be conducted by the Ven Archdeacon E. J. Rich, chaplain to the forces. The Masterton Municipal Band will supply the music for the hymns. Ex-servicemen, Territorials, Wairarapa College cadets, Home Guard units, the drill unit of the E.P.S., Legion of Frontiersmen, V.A.D’s. and pupils from the colleges and schools will be in attendance.

It is anticipated that there will be a large attendance. In spite of the Nazi Attacks upon Britain, General Sir lan Hamilton, who commanded the British forces on Gallipoli, has not forgotten his New Zealand comrades. Year after year Sir lan has forwarded a wreath to New Zealand in time for Anzac Day, so that it could be placed on the Wellington Cenotaph in memory of the men who died while serving under his command. This year his wreath has arrived as usual, and though it does not contain the customary sprigs of heather gathered by himself, it carries a card upon which he has written by hand: “For the Returned Soldiers’ Association of Wellington. New Zealand, from General Sir lan Hamilton, in affectionate remembrance of gallant comrades.”

■This ®is the first time that Sir Jan has sent the wreath to returned soldiers of Wellington only, but it is (pertain. that it is meant for all New Zealand men who served in the Great War. The wreath is not as large as those formerly sent and is a plain one of laurel leaves decorated with sprigs of budding willow. Requiem Mass will be celebrated at St. Patrick's Church, Masterton, at 9 a.m. on Friday, Anzac Day.