IN MEMORIAM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 268, 13 November 1933, Page 7

IN MEMORIAM.

THE EMPIRE'S FALLEN.

Impressive Armistice Day Services.

SILENT, REVERENT CROWDS. (United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 1 p.m.) LONDON, November 12. The commemoration of Armistice Day at the Cenotaph and Westminster Abbey "was marked by the customary stately and impressive ceremonial. The streets were thronged with silent and reverent crowds. The King, though perfectly well, did not attend the ceremony, because of foggy and cold weather. His advisers recalled his illness in 1927, which began with a chill caught at the Cenotaph cercmony. The Prince of Wales acted as liis representative.

A British official wireless message states that the Armistice was also commemorated throughout the country by observance of the two minutes' silence at the Armistice hour, and by the wearing of Flanders poppies made by ex-service-men. The chief ceremony was at the Cenotaph, in Whitehall, but in cathedrals and churches, at war memorials of cities and villages, and wherever there is a British colony throughout the world similar tribute was paid. The King ' was represented by the Prince of Wales, with whom the Duke of Gloucester, Prince George and Prince Arthur of Connauglit attended. The Duke of York represented the King at the Armistice service in Edinburgh. Royal Wreaths Laid. The King's wreath was laid at the base of the Whitehall Cenotaph by the Prince of Wales, who also laid a wreath on his own behalf, and wreaths were placed in position by other members of the Royal Family and by representatives of the Governments in the United Kingdom, the Dominions, India, the colonies and protectorates, and on behalf of the defence Services, the M.erchant Navy and fishing fleets. Representative detachments of the Army, Navy, Air Force and ex-service-men and women, led by bands from the Brigade of Guards, marched to the Cenotaph, round which they formed a hollow square. A brief service, . conducted by the Bishop of London, ended by the sounding of "Reveille," and the singing of the National Anthem. The Queen occupied a window in the Home Office which overlooks the Cenotaph. Mr. S. M. Bruce, Commonwealth High Commissioner, laid a wreath at the Cenotaph- on behalf of Australia. Colonel E. F. W. Lascelles placed one on behalf of New Zealand. The Agents-General for the Australian States attended the ceremony. Silent groups gathered continually at the Cenotaph in Whitehall late on Friday nig}it. Already the plinth was heaped with stately wreaths and humble bunches of chrysanthemums. The,,sale of poppies was not supposed to begin before midnight, but many were sold earlier for 6d and 1/ each. Sellers were busy all night disposing of poppies to late revellers, early risers, newspaper workers, postmen and policemen. They also invaded the markets. Prince at Albert HalL From the darkened stage of the Albert Hall, during the British Legion's festival of remembrance, the Prince of Wales declaimed Laurence Binyon's lines to the fallen. When, with impressive effect, he reached the final words, the thousands filling the hall answered with one voice, "We will remember them." After this the gathering sang "O Valiant Hearts," while a million poppy petals fell from the roof.

Representativ.es of the British overseas forces, including those of Australia and New Zealand, attended.

Captain Anthony Eden, Foreign Under-Secretary, speaking at Birmingham, condemned the policy of isolation as impracticable, adding "the only way to keep out of the next war is to prevent it."

Mr. Winston Churchill, addressing a reunion of the Royal Naval Division, said: "History will unquestionably proclaim that if you had been supported at the Dardanelles as, God knows, I did my best to secure, the world would have been much happier, the war would have been shortened and millions of men would be alive to-day who passed untimely from the world."

The police drew their truncheons to deal with Armistice Day disorders at Cambridge, where male and female adherents of the anti-war movement, in spite of the resentment of the majority at the choice of such an occasion, involved themselves in conflicts. They were pelted with eggs, flour, tomatoes and fish.

Banners were displayed, inscribed, "Stop this poppy day business." A group which laid a wreath on the war memorial afterwards was also pelted.

IN PLACES FAR APART. EMPIRE CELEBRATIONS. The usual Armistice Day commemoration service in Sydney was held at the Cenotaph. Representatives of the Air Forco and the Navy, including a detachment from the French warship Aldebaran, formed a guard.

Canada's war-time Prime Minister failed to attend the Armistice Day ceremony for the first time, for Sir Robert Borden was ill with asthma. Lady Borden deposited a wreath in his stead. Larger crowds than usual attended the ceremonies at all the cities throughout the Dominion.

The celebration of Armistice Day at Suva was the §rst commemoration, in point of time, in the British Empire. A two-minutes' silence was observed, the Governor,'troops and a large number of people being present at Albert Park.