SPIRIT OF ANZAC

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 April 1943, Page 2

SPIRIT OF ANZAC

SACRIFICE AND SERVICE STILL STANDING STEADFAST. ADDRESS BY VEN. ARCHDEACON E. J. RICH. “Our minds go back first of all in this service to days that are gone,” said the Ven Archdeacon E. J. Rich, speaking at yesterday’s Anzac Day service in Masterton, “days . of which that beach of gallant memories we call Gallipoli has become a living and a national symbol. On this day . we honour all who, in every theatre of war, played a worthy part and won an honoured place in the rolls inscribed on this and a thousand other monuments throughout our land.

“And we remember them, we who served with them, with pride and gratitude,” the Archdeacon continued. “They were good friends of .gurs, faithful, true and steadfast, making' no claim to special holiness, yet dajj by day showing a spirit of sacrifice and of service, till then unparalleled in recorded history and which now lingers in the memory as one of the most glorious things life has ever held. “And now this day already raised for us is being consecrated afresh,” said Archdeacon Rich. “As we met here a year ago the men of the Second N.Z.E.F., men who have been proud to take the title of the new Anzacs, were forging new traditions round this day,' as in Greece- and Crete they endured and suffered, content to know that their fight against i overwhelming odds was yet playing no small part in great world campaigns of our day. And since then, in Libya and Tunisia, the men of this land have added new lustre to the glorious name of Anzac and have won a fame which fills us older men with admiration and thanksgiving. ' “For us,” said the Archdeacon, “Anzac Day brings back the memory of matchless heroism of bygone years—nay, matchless did I say—we returned men do not treasure the heroism of the past with the heroism of today. Our Empire is for ever one. Years ago we held the honour of ages in our keeping—we know that those who have succeeded us are holding high in darker days than we knew, the flag which is the abiding symbol of our heritage. The- spirit is still steadfast. It was Marshal Foch who said: ‘Battles are won in the human soul.’ That is immortal truth. On this, our national day, we can say it and take comfort and inspiration from the recollection that it was the spirit of Britain which through one long terrible year saved mankind. We should have gone under but we did not, for we never knew defeat, never for a second thought of throwing in the sponge.

“Yes, the scene may change, new names appear, new battles are fought, but the same spirit of Anzac goes on, unconquerable, the same pledg‘d of final triumph,” said the Archdeacon. “Proud we are of the Second N.Z.E.F., proud are we old Diggers to have with us as full active members of the R.S.A., marching with us today, returned men of the Second Anzacs. They will carry on with the years the high tradition of this day, and we are glad to have it so. This crowded assembly bears witness to the truth that this is total war. In this and other lands there is a great army of voluntary .workers, men giving many an hour'to training, women and girls, in their thousands, working here, there and everywhere, in uniform or not, just doing day by day their'bit to help preserve for generations unborn the decencies and joys of life. “Today is Easter Day,” said Archdeacon Rich. “Easter speaks of resurrection, of refusal to accept Calvary as the final word, it tells of the overthrow of evil, it reveals the secret source of power. And is not that the very thought we will want to carry away with us from this Anzac Day? We do not blind ourselves to the terrible tasks which lie ahead. We know full well the meaning of the poet’s words:

“Not yet to sleep, not yet, the past is nought On that last trench the fate of all may rest.”

“We know that last trench and we shall go from this service today inspired by the glories of the past and the glory of the present, resolved to go forward, united, ready for any challenge, until the last trench, the final stronghold of the evil tyranny we fight is conquered and the peoples of the world shall enter that realm of peace, of security, of freedom; of justice which is the right of every human soul.