OBSERVANCE OF ANZAC DAY

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27642, 26 April 1955, Page 14

OBSERVANCE OF ANZAC DAY

40th Anniversary Of Gallipoli

CITIZENS’ SERVICE AND PARADE

Yesterday the fallen of two world wars, the South African War and the Korean conflict were remembered—in speech, in prayer, in music and in flowers. On this, the fortieth anniversary of the storming of the beaches of Gallipoli, thousands of people left their homes to march, to watch and to pray at Anzac Day observances in Christchurch and in Canterbury.

The passage of time has brought a marked change in the observance of this day of memories. Many of the survivors of the First World War have since died and for many of the younger generation the name Anzac means little more than a holiday from work or school. The number of returned servicemen and women who marched in the parade yesterday, particularly servicemen of the Second World War, was smaller than that of last year, and the number of people who lined the streets would have made up only a small proportion of a Ranfurly Shield procession crowd.

About 4000 persons attended the Citizens’ Service in the King Edward Barracks after the parade, and similar services were held throughout the suburbs of Christchurch and in every town in Canterbury. The dawn service was attended by more than 1000 persons, who in the chilly dawn paid homage to the men who 40 years before had died while the day was breaking. Church and school services were held throughout the day, the observances closing in the evening with the Toe H service of remembrance in the Christchurch Cathedral.

At the completion of the citizens service wreaths were placed on the war memorial in Cathedral square, by representatives of the armed forces, the Government, and returned services’ organisations. Present' at the service were the Minister of Defence (Mr T. L. Macdonald), representing the Government, and the Australian Trade Commissioner in New Zealand (Mr IV. R. Hudspeth). The planting of roppies on the Field of Remembrance brought the afternoon’s observances to a close. . Grey skies and overcoats have become a familiar part of the Anzac Day scene but yesterday, for the third

year in succession, there was sunshine and warm temperatures for the observances. The maximum temperature yesterday was 60.7 degrees, according to figures supplied by the weather office at Harewood, which is a little below the maximum of 62.3 degrees recorded two years ago on the day which has been described as the warmest Anzac Day on reco. d. But for Anzac Days from 1946 to 1952 an overcoat was an essential part of the equipment of any citizen attending the observances. In 1948-1949, and 1951the day began with sunshine, but it later deteriorated, and in 1948 rain and hail fell.