AT THE CENOTAPH

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20427, 23 December 1931, Page 17

AT THE CENOTAPH

AN EMPIRE TRIBUTE. CEREMONY IN SUNSHINE. (MOM 00* OWN CORRESPONDENT.) LONDON, November 12. It just happened that the weather for the ceremony at the Cenotaph was perfect. Had it been an hour later there would have been something borbeiing oil a tragedy. All the morning tht! sun shone with a silvery brightness. At 12 o'clock there was a torrential downpour, which flooded the streets and drenched thoso who had filed up in long processions to lay their wreaths. It was most fortunate that the few hours before the Great Silence and the hour after were nearly perfect for the Empire ceremony. A lair breeze came down Whitehall from the direction of the Houses of Parliament, keeping all tho flags well extended. On most previous occasions tlie sk.y has been overcast or the atmosphere misty. There was novelty this time The bright silver of the autumn sunlight was reflected from tho medals of the thousand British Legion men, making it almost impossible to look directly along their line. Beyond them and right up to Trafalgar square the broad roadway was packed with human beings. Again, the silver light had a sirango effect. The sun shone straight into the faces of the crowd, and was reflected back, giving the impression of thousands upon thousands of points of light upon a dark background. For the second time, the King was represented by the Prince of Wales. Indeed, it is unlikely that his Majesty will ever again lead his people at this ceremony. His medical advisers are unlikely to permit it in tho future. In all other respects the ceremony was just as in other years. Tho staff work for this imposing pageant of remembrance is perfect, and every movement of police and troops, the laying on of wreaths before Big Ben strikes the hour, arc timed to a second. Just as the last representative of tho Empire has returned to his position alter laying his wreath the first chimes of the hour ring out. Nothing has been forgotten. There has been no haste. Before the great clock has boomed out the eleventh note, silence lifis fallen on the vast multitude. Decidedly the ceremony will never cease to thrill those who are privileged to take part in it. The Familiar Setting. Those who are growing up and those who easily forget may he reminded of the setting, in the middle of Whitehall before the imposing Home Office is the Cenotaph. Its significance, ly the way, is never forgotten. Thousands upon thousands of people pass by in buses each day and the great majority incline their faces to the right and men remove their hats for a moment. On this occasion, it forms the centra] altar for countless thousands of reverent worshippers. Traffic is diverted from an early hour and the people begin to assemble hours before the ceremony. By tern o'clock tho congregation of this vast open air cathedral is. almost complete. Police stand almost shoulder to shoulder to keep tho crowd within the hounds assigned to th?m. The space a hundred yards east and west of tho Cenotaph is clear. The Brigade of Guards headed by the massed bands, tho contingents of the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, and the Itnval Air Force march on and take up their positions on the two sides of the open space. Ihe buglers of the Royal Marines and the.Royal Air Force, and the massed bands are formed up on the west of the monument. On the east, eighty yards away, are the lending files of the thousand British I-egion men. Commands ring out as t' ,e . sailors and soldiers take up their positions. For half an hour the massed bands play solemn.music. All th«j windows of the Government ofitcps frame parties of people. As far as the eye can reach, the roofs of buildings are seen to be thronged with onlookers. The Queen, and those in attendance upon her, appear at a window overlooking the central scene. At a quarter to 11 o'clock, the white and scarlet-robed choir emerges from tho door of the Home Office. At the ond of the procession is the Bishop of London. He takes up his position beside a small desk. Near to him h a draped microphone, which is the only visible unit of that great electric system which enables even the people of New, Zealand to participate in this Empire ceremony, and which enables | jo hear more of the service pernaps than the people within a lew yards of the Cenotaph. The Silence. The chief participants in the ceremony then move to their places—the Prime Minister, the Leader of tho Opposition. the Ministers of the Crown, and the representatives of the Dominions ana colonies. Each bears a wreath. Finally, the Prince of Wales and his brothers and members'of the Roval Household come from the Home Office. 'While the wreaths are being laid the band plays the Funeral March of Chopin. The Prince is the first to lay a wreath. He bows" and returns to his place. The others follow, each in turn bowing. Sir Thomas Wilford, on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand, lays a beautiful wreath of yellow chrysanthemums, yellow roses, and lilies of the valley. A few seconds before the hour the last wreath is in. position. All-move-ment is complete. The chimes of the hour are heard. The strokes of Big Hen boom slowly. At the eleventh stroke, guns are heard at a distance, and then the impressive silence begins. At the sounding of a gun, prayers and thoughts return to the things of tho immediate present. The drummers of the Air Force sound a gathering roll, tho trumpeters sound Last Post. The choirs arid the bands lead the vast congregation in the familiar hymn. "0 God, Our Help in Ages Past.'' The Bishop, facing the Cenotaph, recites the special collect, tho lord's Prayer, and tho Blessing. The Reveille is sounded, and finally relief of tension comes with the singing of tho National Anthem. The Procession. Soon afterwards the Prince moves off, the Ministers and Dominion representatives follow. In. another quarter of an hour the troops are moving oil to the strains of the old familiar war tunes. Then follows the procession of ex-Servicemon —possibly the most - impressive part of the whole _ ceremony. Nothing brings buck so vividly the years of the war as the steady march of these thousands of medal-decorated men, some crippled, many grown old. Tho women's war detachments follow, and then the great procession of the public. They move forward slowly, each carrying a wreath or a small bunch of flowers. Each one pauses for a moment, places the floral tribute at the base, of the symbolic stone,' and moves on.' By this time the clouds have gathered. ileavy drops of rain begin to fall, and the vast crowds who still remain in Whitehall are seeking shelter trom tho deluge. PERSONAL. WOULD person who bought Child a Motor-car, Bealey avenue, call for same this morning? Urgent. 6911 A STHOLOGY reveals future. Send stamp A (or free chart for yours. P.O. Box 618. Auckland.