GRATITUDE OF NATION

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

GRATITUDE OF NATION

REMEMBRANCE OF HEROES BISHOP BRODIE’S ADDRESS AT CATHEDRAL Anzac Day was observed with full solemnity at the Roman Catholic Cathedral A big congregation was present; his Lordship Bishop Brodie celebrated Pontifical High Mass. He was assisted by the Very Rev. Dr. J. Kennedy, with Father T. Hanrahan as deacon, and Father J. Hendren. S.M., subdeacon. Father J. Galvin was master of ceremonies. Speaking from the text, “They shall be held in lasting remembrance,” Bishop Brodie said: “Twenty-five years have come and gone since the event from which Anzac derives its name —but the intervening years have not blotted out the memory of that twentyfifth day of April, 1915, neither have they dimmed the lustre of those names which have spread a sacred halo around the name of Anzac. Each succeeding year brings to recollection and prayer a grateful nation, and New Zealand is greater because of the glorious deeds commemorated and because of the glorious name reviewed in honoured memory on this day of sacred remembrance. “If ,the natural aspect of Anzac Day is an inspiration to national greatness, the religious aspect. makes a special appeal to the Catholic heart because of the appeal of that sacred scriptural admonition: ‘lt is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead.' It is this undying bond which assuages the sorrow of the separation of death and proclaims ‘O death where is thy victory, O death where is thy sting.’ It recalls the words of the Divine Master who said: T am the resurrection and the life, whosoever believeth in me. though he be dead, shall live, and shall have life everlasting.’ “Thus Anzac Day revives sacred bonds of affection and stimulates an abiding and prayerful remembrance of those who are gone. “Anzac Day with its national and religious appeal will add to the fervour of our prayers in response to the call of that great worker in the cause of peace. Pope Pius XII, asking the God of Mercy to listen to the prayers of His children in this war saddened world and in His Own loving way to transform the days of anguish through which we are passing into days of tranquillity, justice, charity and lasting peace.” GENERAL FREYBERG’S MESSAGE “SPIRIT OF ANZAC WILL NEVER DIE” (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, April 24. Anzac Day greetings have been received by the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association from MajorGeneral B. C. Freyberg, V.C., who says: “The spirit of Anzac will never die, and the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force will not forget their magnificent example. Wreaths are being laid in the war memorial cemeteries.” The Hon. W. Perry, M.L.C. Dominion president, has replied as follows: “Old members of the Ist New Zealand Expeditionary Force welcome your inspiring message from the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force, and express complete conviction that the traditions of Anzac are in safe keeping in the hands of the new armies of Australia and New Zealand.” Messages from General Sir Alexander Godley, Field-Marshal Lord Birdwood. General Sir lan Hamilton, and the Dominion president of the British Empire Service League of South Africa have also been received. The following cablegram has been received by Major-General Sir Andrew Russell, commander of the Ist New Zealand Division, from General Freyberg: “Remembering with pride the magnificent exploits of the Anzacs on Gallipoli, the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force sends you a message of affectionate regard on the twentyfifth anniversary of the famous landing ** Sir Andrew Hussell has sent the following reply: “Your message much appreciated. Continue the good work and do better still.” TRIBUTE TO HEROIC SPIRIT SERVICE OF HEBREW CONGREGATION The difference between this year’s Anzac Day and the observances of other years was mentioned by the Rev. N. Salas in the Anzac Day special service of the Christchurch Hebrew congregation yesterday. The service, which was *in a simple form, ended with special prayers for the repose of the dead and the singing of the National Anthem. Many members of the congregate a were witnesses to the present trouble in Europe, said Mr Salas, and this gave this year’s Anzac Day a special significance. To him the day was a symbol of loyalty and patriotism. ; “Although many of the men who took part in the event commemorated are no longer with us, their spirits live for all time,” he said. “The present response of our young men to the colours is due to that heroic spirit of the Anzacs, who showed the meaning of love to King and Country. They showed the real meaning of brotherly love—to Uvj and die for one another. “The present war differs from the last because we are not only fighting for the Empire, but for freedom and peace for all humanity,” he said. “I am therefore sure that God will be with us, and that we shall ultimately achieve our aim to bring peace and happiness to all the world.”

ANZAC REUNION

Returned Soldiers’ Gathering TRIBUTES TO FIGHTING SERVICES Memories of the strenuous campaigns in which New Zealanders fought in the Great War were recalled at the annual Anzac reunion of the Christchurch Returned Soldiers’ Association on Wednesday evening. The Jellicoe Hall was filled, and the president, Mr A. E. Haynes, presided. After the loyal toast the gathering honoured “Absent Comrades” while facing the stage, on which representatives of the fighting services stood with bowed heads and reversed arms beside a cenotaph. “Last Post” and “Reveille” were sounded by Mr F. Fox. “Surely no toast ever fell on a more sympathetic atmosphere,” said Mr W. R. Lascelles in proposing the toast of “The Fighting Services.” First came the Navy, whose exploits in the present war were well known to the entire Empire. The magnitude of its task, however, could be only dimly perceived by the average man. Not only was there the defence of home waters, but, in certain eventualities there would be a stern task in the Mediterranean and possibly in Australasia, the home of the Anzacs. It was still true that the bulwark of the British Commonwealth was the British Navy. A small people forced by circumstances to live on an island had developed a great sea tradition which began with Britain’s first great sailor, Alfred the Great, and culminated in Trafalgar. The most comforting aspect of the present war was the naval one. The battle of the River Plate had set the tone for the rest of the war at sea, and the spirit shown by the men of the Achilles was the spirit which would persist and drive every enemy ship from the oceans. It was very comforting to the British Empire at the present time to find that her sailors had not lost the Nelson touch, “Not a Nation of Soldiers” Mr Lascelles asked particularly that the work of those men who served in the little ships should be remembered. In the last winter of almost unequalled severity, the men on trawlers and drifters had gone through almost incredible hardships—not vaingloriously but quietly and cheerfully—doing the toughest job in the world. The Navy had reason to be thankful that in the present war they had been given the targets for which they waited in vain in 1914 and succeeding years. “We are not a nation of soldiers. We have never wanted to be. But we are, in part, a nation of ex-soldiers,” said Mr Lascelles. Those who came through the Great War carried memories of which any young man could be envious. It was the duty of those who har’ fought to see that those young men now going forth on a similar task had the utmost support of those at home. New Zealand was entitled to be proud, of the part played by her soldiers in the Great War, and those present would recall with pride many personal feats. Sergeant Dick Travis’s exploits, for instance, made him one of the greatest single-handed fighters in the history of the world. He and others almost equally distinguished had been forgotten too soon. The Air Force, third of the fighting services, was born only in 1914, and today it had developed into a magnificent fighting force. This development had been so marked that only the other day Italy’s chief air-marshal had told Mussolini that British fighting aeroplanes were superior in quality to anything possessed by either Germany or Italy. Britain had started latest, but although she could not yet match her rivals in numerical strength, she had the advantage of beginning with the best *”pes of aircraft. “The spirit of H.M.S. Achilles and the leadership of General Freyberg have shown the quality of our pre-sent-day fighting men, and recently we have had news that the first air ace of the present war is a New Zealander, ‘Cobber’ Kain. With these men as typical leaders of our fighting forces the Commonwealth of Britain and its cause have nothing to fear,” concluded Mr Lascelles. Task for Returned Men “It would be a very game prophet who would predict how long this war will last or what way it will turn,” said Colonel E. T. Rowllings, officer commanding the Southern Military District, who responded to the toast. “In the last resort it may yet be necessary for the Old Brigade to meet the invader. In the present conditions, however, the association and its members had important duties. The day would come when the young men would return from the' war. They should be treated immediately as returned soldiers and welcomed to the Returned Soldiers’ Association. “We don’t, want two institutions, with the old one dying out and the new one going through the birth pains of the present Returned Soldiers’ Association,” he said. “There is one other duty which may fall to the lot of your association. We do not know how the war will go. It may go well and there may be serious reverses. It cannot be expected that there will be no disappointments. The old soldier knows how to keep up morale in the face of disaster, and his influence is on the general public, which is easily affected adversely by bad news. There will be disasters, and every one of you can help in keeping up the morale of the people in such times.” Sergeant-Major A. L. Emerson proposed the toast of “Local Bodies,” and paid tribute to the consideration always shown the Returned Soldiers’ Association by local bodies in Canterbury. The Mayor (Mr R. M. Macfarlane, M.P.) replied. The association, he said, had always helped the civic authorities, never more ‘ wholeheartedly than in the last six months, when it had done so much to assist in patriotic activities and recruiting. “I want to say that I deplore some of the criticism that has been levelled at your executive oyer certain happenings. AJ.I I can say is that men who go from one end of New Zealand to • the other maligning those who have fought for their country and those who are enlisting to fight again deserve the treatment they have received.” (Applause.) The toast of the “New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association” was proposed by Mr H. G. Livingstone, who said the association had set up high ideals and rendered noble service to those who had suffered because they served. It had won the confidence, the respect, and the support of the entire community. In the present war ’ the returned soldiers were helping magnificently in many ways, and the leavening of old soldiers in the new army would be the means of saving many lives. The ideals of the association were comradeship and service, said Mr A. E. Haynes, president of the Christchurch Returned Soldiers’ Association, in reply. He was proud that there was no need for a “Digger” or his dependants to be in distress. The association gave its help willingly and not grudgingly, and large sums were spent each year on smoothing the way for former soldiers who otherwise would be “up against it.” The association had already opened its doors to the new generation of soldiers. ' The toast of “Sub-Branches and Kindred Associations” was proposed by Mr J. D. Godfrey and responded to by Messrs K. Henderson (Oxford Sub-Association), A. Joseph (Veterans’ Association), C. Rbmeril (Commercial Travellers’ Association), and Warrant Officer L. E. Vernazoni (on behalf of Australian organisations). “Press and Artists” was proposed by Mr E. Or-

chard, and “The President” by Mr C. Miln. The Returned Soldiers’ Association orchestra, under Mr H. G. Glaysher, contributed largely to the success of the evening, and others who assisted were Messrs D. McGill, C. Richards, C. Romeril, D. Gillanders, J. Laurenson, and Colin Campbell. Mr A. Sutherland was the pianist. Ml—— —.l \