Anzac Day Services

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31043, 26 April 1966, Page 17

Anzac Day Services

(N-Z .P .A.-Reuter—Copyright > HONG KONG, April 25. Representatives of the Australian and New Zealand communities in Hong Kong today attended a dawn service and laid wreaths at the Cenotaph to commemorate Anzac Day.

They included the New Zealand High Commissioner, Mr R. L. G. Challis, the senior Australian Trade Commissioner, Mr P. R. Searcy, and the visiting Victorian Premier, Sir Henry Bolte. Singapore. Australians and New Zealanders in Singanore commemorated Anzac Day at a dawn service at the Kran.ii war memorial overlooking the Strait of Johore

Wreaths were laid by the Australian High Commissioner, Mr W. B. Pritchett, the New Zealand High Commissioner, Mr J. H. Weir, the commander-in-chief Far East Forces, Air Chief-Marshal Sir John Grandy, service chiefs, and ex-servicemen's representatives.

Kuala Lumpur.—A combined Australian and New Zealand dawn service was held at the residence of the Australian High Commissioner, Mr A. J. Eastman. Bien Hoa (South Vietnam). —The Australian Prime Minister, Mr Harold Holt, today observed Anzac Day with Australian and New Zealand forces in Vietnam. “You have conducted yourselves in the finest Anzac tradition,” he told 500 officers and men standing on a dusty, heat-filled square at Bien Hoa.

American and Vietnamese soldiers and officers watched the proceedings. "Anzacs are together again fighting for the cause of freedom,” Mr Holt told the sweating troops.

“Anzac Day has a deeper significance here because of the battles you are fighting. “This is an historic struggle. The success that you will achieve here will influence millions of people throughout Asia and the world.” The Australians wore their slouch hats, severe looking alongside the blue berets of the New Zealanders. Canberra. Servicemen throughout Australia were attending reunions this afternoon and this evening as a culmination of the 51st anniversary of Anzac Day. The pattern generally had been a dawn service, followed by a march and then interdenominational services.

Sydney.—One hundred and sixty Gallipoli veterans together with Second World War Diggers tonight celebrated the 51st anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli. And in the midst of the celebrations at the Gallipoli Legion Club, Sydney, was Mr All Reschad—an 85-year-

old Turk who fought against the Australians at Gallipoli. But he was no longer the enemy but a dear friend. Every year since 1949 Mr Reschad, who lives at Manly, has attended the annual Gallipoli dinner. “Mr Reschad walked into the club 17 years ago and said he was a Turk and asked if he could join,” Mr Cuddihy, vice-president of the Gallipoli Legion Club, said tonight “We welcomed him with open arms and since then he has become one of our most popular members. “He is possibly the only living Turkish veteran of the Gallipoli campaign living in Australia, said Mr Cuddihy. Tokyo.—About 100 Australians and New Zealanders attended an Anzac Day service at the British Commonwealth '■emetery near Yokohama today. Wreaths were laid by British and Australian Embassy military service attaches and the Japan-Australia Society.