KING'S ANZAC MESSAGE

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 96, 24 April 1928, Page 10

KING'S ANZAC MESSAGE

.THOUGHTS WITH DOMINIONS.

COMMEMORATION IN

AUCKLAND

GATHERING AT CENOTAPH

VAT!ADE OF RETURNED SOLDIER.^

' On this solemn day consecrated to the memory of tho<se who died so nobly at G.tllipoli, the thoughts of the Queen and Tuysclf are with my people of Australia firifl New Zealand, and our hearts go out in sympathy to all who gave their loved ones.—George R. 1."

The Governor-General (Sir Charles Forgusson) has been commanded by the King to communicate to the people of New Zealand the above message on the occasion of Anzac Day, which will be commemorated to-morrow.

April 25 is held sacred to the memory cf the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps which landed on Gallipoli thirteen years ago, and made history for their gallantry under severe odds, and in the facc of the enemy's deadly guns. Since that date commemoration ceremonies have been observed annually with regularity, and the indications are that to-morrow the services will be similar in detail to those of previous years.

The Principal Service. The principal service will be held at t lie Town Hall at 11 o'clock, and the .Mayor (Mr. George Baildou) will preside. The Government will be represented by the Minister of Defence (Hon. I'. J. Kolleston), and his Excellency the Governor General (Sir Charles Fergusson) will read the lesson. The clergy taking part will be the Rev. E. R. Harries, AngU9 Macdonald, 0.8. E., and G. T. Robson, MX'., chaplin to the New Zealand Naval Division. The two firstmentioned will deliver addresses. The returned soldiers who will attend to pay their respects to their dead comrades will parade at Queen's wharf, and will march up Queen Street. Arriving at the intersection of Grey's Avenue and Queen Street, they will salute the temporary cenotaph which will be erected in front of the Town Hall. Later official wreaths will be added to those already laid at the foot of the cenotaph. All the wreaths will be removed the next day to the soldiers' plot in Waikumete cemetery.

To ensure that next-of-kin desiring to attend the ceremony will not be excluded in the ruah to secure seats in the Town Kail, the Returned Soldiers' Association has arranged for them to be admitted by tickets, which will be distributed on application. Next-of-kin will be admitted at 10.15, and the general public at 10.45 a.in. The ground floor of the hall will be reserved for returned soldiers and veterans. Members of the King's Empire Veterans are invited to assemble at Grey's Avenue entrance at 10.30 o'clock.

Lleut.-Colonel W. €. Sinel, D.5.0., will command the parade, and Lieut. R. S. •Tudson, V.C., N.Z.S.C,, will be adjutant. Seven bands will take'part. The time for the assembly of the parade, which will be representative of all army and navy units, i 519.455 1 9.45 a.m.

A guard will be mounted at the cenotaph, and seats will be provided in the enclosure for 100 mothers of fallen soldiers, who may obtain tickets from the R.S.A. or the (Southern' Cross League. The Town Hall service will be broadcast from station IYA, which will also provide an eye-witness' description of the returned soldiers' procession, and the scenes at the cenotaph. Other Arrangements.

A second service will be held in tlie Town Hall at 3 o'clock expressly for pupils of secondary schools, Boy Scouts, Y.W-.C.A., and Girl Citizens. The clergy iit charge will be Revs. G. C. Cruickshank, W. Lawson Marsh and W. W. Averill. The Mayor will preside at a service at Waikumete at the same hour, and Canon Percival James will deliver an address. The Victoria League is providing 320 wreaths of laurel and rosemary to be placed on the graves. Similar wreaths are being made by the Girl Guides for tho graves' at O'Neill's Point Cemetery, at Devonport.

An overflow service for those unable to obtain admittance to the Town Hail will be held at St. Matthews' Church. The preacher will be Canon C. H. Grant Cowen.

Services will also be. held in the various suburbs, the majority of which have their own memorials to the fallen. Addresses appropriate to the occasion will be delivered by the clergy and prominent citizens, and wreaths will be laid. Tn the majority of cases, however, the fixtures have been made so as not to clash with the big ceremony in the city. As in former years there will be a parade of Scouts, Guides, Returned Soldiers, Veterans, and the Fire Brigade at Takapuna at 2.30 o'clock. The fall-in will he at St*. Andrew's Avenue, and the Municipal Band will be in attendance. Full arrangements have Iteen made for New Lynn and surrounding districts. There will be a parade of Returned Soldiers. Scouts. Guides, and others, and the service will be held at 11 a.m. in the Delta Theatre.

Services calculated to impress upon kpliool children the significance of Anzac Hay were held in the various schools In t city and suburbs to-day. To-morrow a Mpecial memorial service will be held in King's College Chapel, when the headmaster, Canon H. K. Archdall, will pri?ac!i. Tt is expected a large number of old boys will attend.