Dawn Commemoration

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31043, 26 April 1966, Page 1

Dawn Commemoration

As the dark night sky gave way to a’ pale grey yesterday, Christchurch began its commemoration of those days of 50 and 25 years ago when the dawn heralded another day for fighting for what they held worth fighting for, another day for New Zealanders and Australians united in a common cause. And so it was yesterday The Australian Imperia Forces’ Association, whicl can call on about 40 Christ church members, organiser the twenty-seventh dawn ser vice in Cathedra) square About 1700 New Zealander joined the Australians to re member their comrades in i service which is the Austra lian idea of celebrating Anzai

Day and has been adopted [• by more and more New Zealanders as the years go by 1 and Anzac Day takes on a I new form. The crowd began to gather | outside the Citizens’ War , Memorial in the grounds of ' Christchurch Cathedral from 6 a.m. A roll of drums showed that Anzac Day had begun for Christchurch, and the Salvation Army Band led the crowd in “Lead, Kindly i Light." i From there the service followed the pattern laid down over recent years, with the y. “Recessional” being sung after al a lesson had been read by the ;h Rev. I. G. Ryburn. it- Then came the Anzac dedl>d cation by Mr S. J. Bromhead, ■r- president of the A.I.F. Assoe. elation, in which he reminded rs people of the day 51 years ago e- when the men of Anzac had a their baptism of fire and from a- it there was forged a link ac which had held in a Second

l World War and in conflicts ■ later which affected the com- ’ mon interests of the Douni nion and the Commonwealth. Wreaths were placed on the ■ memorial, and were dedicated ■ by Mr D. Barrett, president ■ of the Christchurch Returned i Sendees’ Association. “There Is No Death,” by the : Christchurch Liedertafel, a ■ prayer offered by the Dean of • Christchurch (the Very Rev. i W. A. Pyatt), a former serviceman, and the singing of “0 God, Our Help in Ages ■ Past,” led to the end of the i service the Benediction > given by the Bishop of Christ- ■ church (the Rt. Rev. A. K. « Warren). Bishop Warren, a former chaplain of the forces, - who won the Military Cross, , was officiating at his last - dawn parade as bishop. I As buglers sounded > “Reveille” the sun was breakI ing through. The crowd dis- > persed, but many went to the t Godley plot to place a poppy 1 there for-remembrance.