ANZAC

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 13024, 1 May 1940, Page 4

ANZAC

COMMEMORATION SERVICE AT KATIKATI

(From Our Correspondent)

From all parts of the district, citizens assembled in the township last Thursday to celebrate the historical landing at Gallipoli. The Parade fell in at the Uretara Bridge, and consisted of a large number of Returned Soldiers, Territorials and members of both secondary and primary schools, together ' with _ a large procession of the public. Amongst the returned men who paraded were Lieut. H, Steele M.C.; Lieut. Toombs, Croix-de-guerre with star; Lieut. J. Duncan, M.C.; Lieut. E. J. Hunter, M.M.; Lieut. O. P. Coleman; M. Kelso M.M.; also G. AshbyPalmer, Scottish piper for the Territorials.

Mr. M. Kelso, President of the R.S.A., was in carge of the parade, and Lieut. Coleman commanded the Territorial Force. The parade moved off promptly at 1.15, the Katikati Citizens’ Band leading, Lieut. Duncan drum major, with Mr. A. E. West conducting. It marched to the strains of Colonel Bogey March to the picture theatre, the body of the hall being packed. The service was presided over by Mr. Kelso, and on the platform were Lieut. Duncan, the Rev. D. C. Stewart, and the Rev. R. G. Fussell. Mrs. G. Henderson officiated at the piano. The service commenced with the singing of the National Anthem led by the hand, and then a player by the Rev. D. C, Stewart. This was followed by the singing of the hymn “O God Our Plelp in Ages Past,” a scripture reading by Lieut. T. Duncan, the hymn ‘‘Lead Kindly Light,” and an address delivered by the Rev. R. G. Fussell. After the final hymn, ‘‘For All the Saints,” the Last Post was sounded by Messrs. A. C. West and A. M. Dick, and two minutes silence observed. After the Reveille was sounded the concluding prayer was said by the Rev. D. C. Stewart and Kipling’s Recessional ‘‘Lest We Forget” was sung. The Rev. R. G. Fussell pronounced the benediction, and the singing of the Doxology brought the service to a close.

On the street in front of the hall, all units fell in. the hand struck up a march, and the procession marched to the Cenotaph, a distance of about a third of a mile. During the march. Piper Ashley-Palmer played a Scottish march. At the Uretara Memorial gates the laying of wreaths took place. The wreaths were the official Anzan wreaths in memory of those who fell in the Great War, the Navv, R.S.A. next-of-kin, and wreath on behalf of the W.A.A.C. Also various other institutes and, organisations were represented. The Last Post was then sounded by Band Conductor A. E. West and Bandmaster A. M. Dick, followed by Reveille while the flag was drawn to the masthead. The Territorials formed the guard of honour at the Gates.