“TAKING UP THE TORCH”

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23004, 26 April 1940, Page 12

“TAKING UP THE TORCH”

CHALLENGE OF A NEW WAR ANZAC HEROES HONOURED “Memories of -tile past call us to survey our position to-day. Once more, unfortunately; the nation is at war, and a clarion call has come to the people of the Empire to defend the liberty and' the freedom they love so much.,.. 1 believe that we can best remember those whom .we honour to-day by taking up. thd toi;ch they" laid down, by accepting this challenge to the Empire, to Christian’ethics, and do international law. and order,” said Mr A. E. Haynes, president of the'Christchurch Returned Soldiers’ Association, in his address at the citizens’ Anzac Day memorial service in King Edward Barracks yesterday afternoon. The largest Anzac Day crowd for many years almost filled the great hall. The Mayor (Mr R. M. Macfarlano, M.P.) presided at the service, which was held under the auspices of the Christchurch Returned Soldiers’ Association. The association’s orchestra, under Mr- 11. G. Glaysher. played the “Dead March” in Saul, while the wreaths carried in the procession. were laid in front of and heside the dais. The Rev. W. Grigg led the congregation in the singing of the hymn, “O God Our Help in Ages Past,” after which the Very Rev. Dean Julius read the prayer in Commemoration of the Fallen. The Rev. W. E. D. Davies. C.F., read the lesson (Ecclesiasticus, chapter 44. verses 1 to 14). Mr J. D. Godfrey 1-d the singing .of “For All the Saints,” and Sergeant-Major A. L. Emerson tlie singing of “Eternal Father, Strong to Save.” “Last PostT was sounded by the buglers of the Christ’s College cadets. Mr D. W. Russell read Laurence Binyon’s poem. “To the Fallen,” and the trumpeters of the Christchurch West High School cadets sounded “Reveille.” The final hymn, "Abide With Me,” was led by Dean Julius, and the service concluded with a verse each of the New Zealand National Anthem and the National Anthem. “Immortalised in History” . “To-day .the heart of the Dominion is touched by the memory of Anzac,” said Mr Haynes. “Time has done much to efface the memory of the Great War and its incidents, but Australia and' New Zealand need no reminder of the meaning of Anzac Day. That crowded hour on the beach of Anzac left impressions that time cannot dim nor rob of their glory.” It was merely fortuitous that the initials of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps gave the name of Anzac to the combined force, but the Australian and New Zealand soldiers, fighting should_r to shoulder, had become immortalised (in the annals of the British Empire by their gallantry and self-sacrifice. That landing 25 years ago on a shelterless and inhospitable beach was an adventure. with few parallels in history and one which seemed impossible of accomplishment. Every nation has memories which cannot be effaced, which live on and pass from lip to lip, such as those 300 Spartans who bravely awaited death in the passes of Thermopylae. “To-day we gratefully remember the achievements of those who served in the years of 1914 to 1918.” said Mr Haynes. It was an occasion to stir up memories of glorious deeds, of hardships arid dangers cheerfully met, and of comradeships that last. Martial music was again stirring the old soldier to his heart’s depth, and taking his mind back to strenuous days when, in the flush of youth, he prepared to sacrifice all for the defence of-the liberty of his homeland. “This day is set aside to pay reverent tribute to the young manhood of our nation who by their devotion, courage, and sacrifice coriferred on the Dominion a glory which will endure,” he said. The people of New Zealand would think of the 17,000 who did not return with gratitude for the services given and thanksgiving for the sacrifice made. They had rallied in the face of a national ± aril, and freely offered their services in the defence of their own land, and the rights of small nations. It was to the credit of the politicians that they had given the Dominion and the Empire a lead, and answered the call even before it was made. Poets and generals had recorded their praise of the courage and valour of the Anzacs. “It is not too much to k claim that their courage was outstanding and sublime. In the darkest hour they never lost their confidence in ultimate victory—in the faith that right must win in the end. They offered

DAWN SERVICE LARGE GATHERING AT WAR MEMORIAL PARADE OF RETURNED SOLDIERS Nearly 500 returned soldiers and about 1000 of the public took part in the Anzac Day dawn service of remembrance at the War Memorial in Cathedral square between 6 a.m. and 7 a,m. yesterday. Assembling by moonlight in the frosty, calm morning, those who attended completed their brief ceremony with the National Anthem, just as the day began to oreak over the city. The attendance was considerably larger than last year. Though the ceremony, arranged by the Australian Returned Soldiers’ Association, is primarily a simple commemoration of the men who died in the Great War, the dedication address read yesterday referred to the call being made to the present generation. A few minutes after 6 a.m. nearly 300 people had already gathered round the memorial plot on the north side of; the Cathedral, and returned soldiers, with former nursing sisters, were falling in in Worcester street west. At 6.30 a.m. the parade marches to the Cathedral and formed a square round the memorial. A roll of drums was played by boys of the Christchurch West High School, followed by the singing of the hymn. “Lead, Kindly Light.” The Rev. Alex. McNeur, C.F., who took the service, read passages from Scripture: and after Kipling’s “Recessional” had been sung an Anzac dedication 'was read by Warrant Officer L. E. Vernazoni, D.C.M., N.Z.T.S., as follows; “Upon this day 25 years ago, Anzac received its baptism of fire, and became one of the immortal names of history. The men of Australia and New Zealand were united in a fight for justice and freedom. That bond of unity remains with us, and we who are gathered here think of the comrades who went out with us to the battlefields of the Great War but did not return; and of those who, in earlier conflict, set us a noble example by giving their lives for their country. We think, also, of those of a new generation who, even now. are making the same sacrifice in the cause of freedom. We desire to be worthy of their great sacrifice, and once more dedicate ourselves to the service of the ideals for which they died. As the dawn is even now about to pierce the night, so let their memory inspire us to work for the coming of the new light into the dark places of the world. We pray that in due season a lasting peace may be established and that their memorial may be ‘peace on earth and goodwill among men.’ ’’ Wreaths from the Australian and New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Associations were then placed on the memorial. The wreaths were dedicated by Captain E. E. Lloyd, N.Z.S.C., patron of the Australian Association:—“ With grateful thanks for their comradeship we dedicate these wreaths to the memory of those who did not return.” “Last Post” was sounded by buglers of the Christchurch West High School, followed by silence for one minute. •Then a choir of male voices, under Mr V. C. Peters, sang “There is no Death.” After prayers and the hymn, "O God Our Help in Ages Past,” Mr McNeur pronounced a benediction. “Reveille” was soundea, and a roll of drums followed by the National Anthem ended the service. Music for the singing was played by the band of the Ist Battalion, Canterbury Regiment. their all. and now many rest in the long stillness close by where they fought and died.” Surely the 17,000 who were being remembered and honoured, the men who gave their lives to save the world from tyranny and oppression, were followers of Him who made the greatest sacrifice for mankind, said Mr Haynes. The young men of the Empire faced now the herculean task of cleansing the world of pestilent, foul, and immoral force in order that justice, equity, and right might survive, said Mr Haynes. They went into the task with clean hands, for their country had no thoughts of territorial gain or aggrandisement. Its sole object was that its people might live in peace and that the smaller nations might, have the same right. The war. he said, had already been apocalyptic, for it had revealed beneath the veneer of civilisation the heart of the brute beast. But it had also revealed again the capacity of mankind for service and sacrifice. The manhood of the Empire was a brave and dauntless figure standing in the path of the monster. With spiritual vision .and lofty ideals that figure would tower to the skies. “Let .us he true to God and true to ourselves, and the forces of Hell shall not prevail against us,” Mr Haynes concluded.