ANZAC DAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 88, 15 April 1942, Page 5

ANZAC DAY

27TH ANNIVERSARY

CEREMONY AT CENOTAPH

Saturday, April 25, the twentyseventh anniversary of AnZac commemorating the immortal landing of Australian and New Zealand troops on Gallipoli Peninsula, and much more besides, will be observed in Auckland this year in altered cirstances, yet in traditional fashion. The principal departure from recent custom will be the abandonment of the dawn parade. Public interest will centre on the ceremony at the Cenotaph at 11 a.m.

Last year Anzac Day was observed with the mind of the public proud but depressed in the knowledge that New Zealand's second generation of fighting men were passing through the valley of the shadow of death. They were fighting a grim rearguard action with British troops, evacuating from the Greek ports of Piraeus, Kalamata and Nauplia, under a death-dealing hail of bombs and machine-gun fire from the Luftwaffe. On the eve of Anzac the newspapers carried the heroic story of the new Anzacs, mud-stained and exhausted, fighting a gallant rearguard action. The Greek Government had left Athens.

Grim Rearguard Action

New Zealanders, fighting with a coolness and heroism matched only by that of their fathers 26 years before, had held up the reckless advance of the main body of the German arjriy for 100 hours. In face of this blitz campaign, outnumbered, out-gunned, out-mechanised, with a dwindling protective air screen, the Anzacs fought determinedly, saving the Allies from encirclement. This much was known on the eve of Anzac. The obstinate defence of our men had made possible the holding of the gap between storied Mount Olympus and the Aegean Sea The narrow valley had been fiercelv defended by the New Zealanders before sheer weight of numbers and the unstemmable onrush of Hitler's tanks and infantrv. Well-aimed machine-gun fire and calculated pounding by our artillerv. often over open sights, took terrible toll of the Nazis . . . but seemingly in vain. There were many, twelve months ago. who stood bareheaded about the Cenotaph in the Domain praying silently for the safety and salvation of loved ones in the midst of battle It was a dark hour, full of uncertainty and sorrow—a sorrow tinged with pride. Once again New Zealand's manhood had stood the test nobly in the face of a resolute foeman. Our Glory and Pride This year the imperishable anniversary, charged now with a new and richer significance, will be observed in an atmosphere markedly less anxious, for all that Japan has entered the war against us and New Zealand now finds herself under the shadow of possible impending attack. Three blood-stained campaigns, Greece, Crete and Libya, have been fought by the men of the Second N.Z.E.F. The new Anzacs have to their credit battle honours to match those of their fathers. And now, fittingly enough, they have earned a respite, and have moved to, a place of comparative peace and safety in the rolling uplands of historic Syria. These facts, this so recent history, enhancing the pride and the glory of our young Dominion's story, will be in every mind as the old flags are lowered at the Cenotaph, to the: trumpet call of the Last Post, and the raising of fresh flags to the glad, inspiriting notes of Reveille. There will be among the thousands of ex-

servicemen and women not only those who fought in South Africa, on Gallipoli and the other theatres of war in 1914-18, but the younger veterans of the present conflict, many of them battle-scarred, a brave few with their wounds of Libya unhealed. Strong Muster Expected Since Anzac Day falls this year on a Saturday it is unlikely that there will be any observance in the schools, but on the Friday headmasters will arrange, as in past years, for an address on the significance of the morrow. A school, to be drawn by lot from those schools which have not so far enjoyed the honour, will send a represenative to lay a wreath at the Cenotaph. King's College and the Auckland Grammar School are arranging their annual commemorative observances. The Victoria League will once again lay wreaths on soldiers' graves. The act of homage at the Cenotaph will follow the usual course, with the well-loved hymns "Abide With Me" and the "Old Hundredth," and the depositing of wreaths. It was learned to-day that official representation at the ceremony has not yet been arranged. Last year there were some 6000 ex-servicemen and women on parade, and it is anticipated that this year's muster will be even larger.