ANZAC DAY

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21759, 16 April 1936, Page 9

ANZAC DAY

TO THE KDITOB OF THE PRESS. Sir—l as a returned soldier, would like to see Anzac Day a day of rejoicing. I have reasons for so wishing. These young fellows had lived joyouii lives and iust in the midst of joy and youth 'and strength they were killed. They had never known sadness* sickness, or misery. Right up to the coming of death, joy was their portion. Death is not terrible—it is just a happy release; and, especially is it happy if it comes for the benefit of your fellowmen. _, I have been an incurable suffering soldier for 18 years. The doctors can do nothing for me. Like an old horse, I am turned out to die. But I must wait for death, which has no terrors for me. How much easier jvould it be for me if I had been blown to pieces in the battlefield! Then I should have never known suffering, pain, despair, and above all, humiliation. I should have been taken just in the midst of a full life. Indeed. I should be looked upon as a hero. Instead, now healthy young men and women, like whom I was 20 years ago, laugh at me. That is hard to bear. , Away then with your mournful commemoration day for the dead, who laughed to their final moment. The fallen never knew a moment's sadness and they do not need your tears now. —Yours, etc.. „„«„,,« BROKEN. April 15. 1936.

TO THE EDITOH OF THB PRESS. Sir,—l notice in your issue of this morning that Dr. Birkinshaw, vicepresident of the Returned Soldiers' Association, is reported to have stated during a discussion on Anzac Day that "the day was definitely one of commemoration for those who had died at Gallipoli." I should greatly regret the narrowing of Anzac Day to commemorate only those who died on Gallipoli. I think Anzac Day is a day of commemoration of New Zealand's war effort as a whole and a day of remembrance of those New Zealanders who served and suffered or died on Gallipoli. in France, Palestine, or any other theatre in which New Zealanders served as a unit or as individuals. It is entirely wrong to suppose that only those who served at Anzac are to be remembered on Anzac Day. New Zealanders' thoughts and memories on that day should embrace not only those who fought or died in foreign lands, but all those whose service contributed to New Zealand's war effort, including those mothers, wives and others who suffered loss.--Yours, etc., 6/950. April 15, 1936.