THE SONG OF PRAISE.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15605, 1 June 1916, Page 9

THE SONG OF PRAISE.

GkhUVOhl DAY IX LONDON.

THE KINO AT THE ABBEY.

(ntoll OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) LONDON, April 20. To-dav the first anniversary of the , Vmr of the Australasian troops on landing of Gallipoli pentoTob»r™d as n solemn S'iva. * Z „°, me that England, too should inemnrios of her ,Ilu.tr,ous *>th •Division, «rt i» tod ?' - u° g ? d lid r..l«r a " ™P h r.cmor.t.on.. Primrose Dav .. obout tic utmost height to which th.s cult of has reached; and evidently there arc many people who think it akht w'th advantage be carried farmer The oversea soldiers, at any rate' did not overlook the memory of [Lir comrades in that terrible expense for hanging on the rails of the within four ieet of the Queen, was a beautiful -wreath, inscribed: "To -tia °yth Division, from their New Zealand" comrades in arms." It will be remembered that the New Zealand infantry were taken down to Holies early in 3lay and charged gallantly through the trenches held by the 88th Brigade. On tbo rails at the other side was a irreath from the old boys of Wanganui Cfllifg® ® memory of their dead.

THE RENDEZVOUS. jlscKcw Zealand base depot at Horncittrth provided 700 men towards the •>OO9 of - all arms who attended as representing the armies of Australia and jfar Zealand. They camo by train from Hornchurch and alighted at the Tanplo station,' greatly to the disappointment of thousands in the City -who {ad looked forward to seeing theni march from Fenchurch street station. - Colonel C. H. J. Brown, Major Dawson, and Captain Price (Adjutant) were the staff, and, of «mrse, tho whole thing was under the oversight of General G. S. Richardion, who has taken over general control of all our details in this country.

The placc of honour in our procession vis given to the 250 survivors of the actual landing who happened to bo in ' Hornchurch. After them camo details t of the different arms, and the band, •jhich has been established since tho 1 cimp was fixed at Hornchurch. Though : no rifles were carried, the men looked - remarkably well and soldierly with tieir slouch hats, bandoliers, and sidc- ; anns t and they got a tremendous rc- : ception as they marched through the . etieets. It was a gorgeous day, the fint real breath of warmth we have . known since a particularly dreary and ' hitter winter closed down uoon us. The populaco felt it, too. and their cordiality reflected it. Groat crowds had come.into town to make,an additional holiday, and it is a long time since such a reception was given to any body of nien ns the Anzacs got to-day. Thero ' iras teal chcoring. There were real crowds There were actually real flowers *hoVered upon the wounded as they • drovo through in charabancs. Tho - wholo thing was less formal than wa -haw "teen accustomed to, and much { more likc what wo read of occurring in . France in these days of emotion and ..hope. The ovation was spontaneous }#nd genuine.

TO THE ABBEY. A Trom the rendezvous at the Aldwyeh |<o tho-Abbey the procession took posof London. Tbo long springing 'VDtf of ttaki was a revelation, and arj^xe"admiration of seasoned soldi^s.from'many climes recovering from their wounds in London or- spending a few days of rest here from the trenches 'of Flanders. All along the route : groups of Tommies, South Africans, Canadians, even Cossacks from the Don, Belgians from Nieuport, and. an occasional steol-helmeted poilu—for London has all of those races in its arms to-day—stood at attention and admired ■the soldiers fiom Gallipoli. Tho/men marched into the Abbey at . th® west door, and without fuss or disorder filed into their pews, rank after j l ®9»»d»iuad aftr squad, platoon after un til one wondered that even edifice could contain so m»fiy.; ' Both transepts and most of Mtcs -were filled with a solid mas.<* Ctbpm, until there was only r,oom for .wof the privileged public to enter THE TRIFORIUM. _Aj attho Coronation, I was priviH&a to see this ceremony from a point Of Tintago in tho triforium, and ono coala not help being struck all through Jjurthe severity of tho contrast. This, i7 as a . scene splendour j tjut it j "s tho wile splendour of war. There I colour bnt tho khaki'of cam«There were no trappings. 4? service of commemoration and «a«3giving practically "in the field." * )aßsa ® o to the triforium wa« in reminisconeo of tho trenches. JMjntmg the dark stone spirals tvo had to pass crouching along the stone t?° at length out into the hero the semblance ' at an -. « nd - Stono .{&£? P.-'ed . up with PttanoPnt alr wd damage; "R hi»5 d , lay *" aIon B the Qoor iibovo on?^^i ect ?,t° VQ tlie ground, ff B,lh ? u ? tted in w £ r ? om,nt >» s iundreds oTfelt i far kelow, a S ail dences. ' re further evi"nStS&feT!.'J'' in. The hauled bad been foreon of tho behind the Many of untunes were Wyu Li \ dead of D ? sfc structures nnsiffi- f* r by P rot cctivo >» tho centre of •• *bove, and " veritable sand&S h ? hance, ,, was jU round and a , —sandbags ™ Mh <* Sellose saSl SCENE IX THSB ABBEV. and S^r 1 ' The ? Isew Zea * J "wSSy-Torco an,)!, ExpeJi- j mfePSSLS afa?r h A bl S S ' l|fe 2 liEiithr tho of the ages" " fe.of n of ° f * ' ;^ des the eyes of ' ; of°khafer e ma,n a ' s ' ,! a nar * ' ?row uar- « it io J!ii a -F. fainter and { ifo&tiier K v tliA j ln tbe shadows AriftiS-g the baling flood of ; ight , £ wL; S™# 1 the tnrSel 00r i. ,^? lf - Outside ' ®; brilliant summer i .Me infinitesimal forms of lirthe streets or cling. ?-VW. S° railings, ft ® n . the aisle there is n i r ,\J us t the thinnest strip rom the surplices of the choir.

At, the chancel railings is another touch—the two pyramids of candies which mark the reading lecterns.

THE KING ARRIVES

Punctually at 11.30 tho organ bursts inx-j tho strains of tho-National Anthem. Far down the shaft of light towards tho west door thero is a sign of motion, and presently Queen Mary, mqducted bv Bishop Boyd Carpenter (subdean or the Abbey), appears, clad all in black, una walks up tho aisle to her seat in the chancel. The King, with Bishop Rylc (the Dean), follows, clad in the field servico khaki of .his rank, the prelates bow and retire; their Ala.jesties sit down, and at onco tho 6ervice begins, with the hymn "For I'll the saints who from their labours rest.'' There is a particular significance in the verse—

"And when the strife is fierce, tho warfare long. Steals on the ear tho distant triumph song. And hearts are brave again, and arms are strong. Alleluia."

Collects having been read, thero followed tho anthem -'Ascribe unto tho Lord, 0 ye kindreds of the people.'' Ihen tho Dean called the congregation to "praise and thanksgiving for those of our brothers who died at Gallipoli for their King and Empire, in the high cause of freedom and honour." Tho different, units of Australia and New Zealand who took part in tho landing were mentioned individually, and the Dean continued:

'• . eso , fou e llfc most valiantly, ineir deeds will bo remembered evermore. Their memorial is already inscribed in men's hearts. In future ages the sons of our Empire will .eek t<> emulate the imperishable renown of their daring and bravery. We are resolved that by Cod's gracious favour, our brothers shall nofhavo laid down their lives in vain. 'Greater love hath 119 man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.' 'The eternal tioci is thv dwelling-place, and underneath arc the Everlasting Arms.' 'Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whoso mind is stayed on Thee, becausc he trusteth in Thee.' "

Then, all standing, congregation, soldiers, and choir, sang the world-widy hymn of the British race, "Praise God, from Whom all blessings How." Ihe Dean then, "amid the memorials of Great Britain's illustrious dead, and in this church whero our Kings and Queens arc crowned," dedicated "to Thy great glory the memory of our dead brothers departed. Wo praise Thy liolv JViame for the gift of their matchless courage. Croiv», wo beseoch Thee, with Thy loving mercy' tho offering of their brave lives. . , . Grant, 0 iiOrd, that we, being strengthened by grace for the work of completing that which remains over of our dear brothers' task, may ever servo Tlieo truly in the faith of Him who is our resurrection and our life, and may fight manfully unto our lives' end in defence of the heritage of our libertv, and for the triumph of a righteous cause, through tho same, Jesus Christ our Lord." Another prayer was of thanks for +hc • e n sil j? s .° f Imperial unity, the freewill offerings of tho Empire's sons and daughters, tho affoction and devotion of tho Dominions and tho Mother Country, and the patient and self-denyin< T earnestness of th e people. ™ Then was sung the most appropriate of all recessionals (Rudyard Kipling ft), and, after the Benediction* all stood and sang tho National Anthem But the dramatic moment of the whole solemn ceremony was undoubtedly tho last when the trumpeters of the" Now Zealand Mounted Rifles, from the aisle at the side of the chnncel. blew the poignant appeal of tho "Last Post," the shrill clear notes echoing and re-echo* mg through the storied columns and arches of the Abbey.. For fullv a minute after tho last sound had died away thero was an unbroken silence, and then slowly, like a faint breeze W* ing 111 the* trees, n hum of movement supervened,- and tho historic gathering commonccd to dissolve. a INCIDENTS. King and Queen wero lenving tao Abbey, beforo*any of the soldiers or the public moved,- tho King stepped into one of the side aisles and shook hands with ono or two of the wounded soldiers who were seated there. General Birdwood was in the Abbey, and after the ceremony he saw his'Anzacs march past, and took their salute from tho edge of the pavement. As the New Zealanders wero forming up for the return march to the station. General Sir lan Hamilton and Lady Hamilton walked past- 011 the footpath. Several people recognised him, and hereceived a few salutes, but his appearance was quite informal.