ARMISTICE SUNDAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 272, 16 November 1936, Page 12

ARMISTICE SUNDAY.

EX-SERVICE PARADE. . ' - SERVICES AT TOWN HALL. IMPRESSIVE CEREMONIAL. One thousand ex-servicemen, representing every branch of His Majesty s Services, gathered yesterday to paj T an Armistice Sunday tribute to the memory of their fallen comrades on the battlefields of Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania and the High Seas during the fateful years of 1914-1918, and to those who died later as the result of war service. Organised by the Old Contemptibles' Association, that remnant of the heroic tiny army which landed on the Continent in the early days of August, 1914, and first faced the terrific onslaught of the numerically overwhelming; German fighting 'machine, the parade was probably the most representative military and naval event held in Auckland. Not only were the Army, Navy, Air Force and Merchant Marine Service represented, but. also many Imperial, Dominion and Colonial units of these branches from all over the woi Id. It was silently illustrative of how far fiung is the. Empire 'and how men from the world over answered the call of the Motherland. Under the command of General Sir George Richardson, and headed by the band of the First Auckland Regiment, the parade marched up Queen Street from the Queen's wharf to the Town Hall, where that most impressive of all military services, the Drum Head, was held. ' In the van of thq, parade was the ExNaval Men's Association, followed by the South African Veterans' Association, New Zealand turned Soldiers' Association, Auckland District Pipe Band, Scottish Regimental Association, Balmoral Boys' Band, British Legion, St. Andrew's Pipe Band, Corps of Commis-< sionaires, Old Contemptibles' Association and the Legion of Frontiersmen. All the men were in mufti with the exception of the Frontiersmen, who ill their impressive uniform acted as a" rearguard. Captain F. W. Short acted as adjutant. With medal and decorations shining in the sun and Colours flying and marching with splendid rhythm, the men made an impressive spectacle as they made their way up Queen Street, which was lined with spectators. It was pleasing to note that many spectators bared their heads as the various Colours went by. In the Town Hall the men were joined by their sisters in the services— nurses, V.A.D.'s, ambulance drivers and other units, to the number of about 50. The large audience and ex-service ihen and 'women stood in silence as, accompanied by the slow beat of the drums, the chaplain, the Rev. G. V. Gerard, M.C., walked slowly up the centre 4'f the hall to the dais at the head of men bearing the Colours. On the dais fv [drum was placed in front of the padre, and reverently the Colours, one by one, were placed on it. The service was appropriate and impressive. Towards the conclusion all [heads were bared as buglers sounded ■ "The Last Post," which was followed by Chopin's "Funeral March," played on the organ by Mr. Stuart Panting. The sounding of "The Reville" ended the period of remembrance for those who had gone before, the climax coming in a paen of praise, "All Hail the Power."