R.S.A. snub to Anzac man

Press, 24 May 1977, Page 5

R.S.A. snub to Anzac man

By JOHN ROSS, London correspondent Mr J. P. Mellor, the police superintendent who annually organises the largest Anzac Day service outside Australia or New Zealand, has been; awarded the highest honourl of the Australian Returned; Services’ League. But he - is at a loss to I understand the apparent in-i difference shown by the New’ Zealand Returned Services’! Association to what is I essentially a New Zealand! event. The Australian R.S.L.’s! national executive has de-| cided to award Mr Mellor a certificate of appreciation; for the work he has devoted to organising the Anzac ser-l vice at Cannock Chase dur-! ing the last four years. An estimated 4000 people attended the service last! ■Anzac Dav, and the R.S.L.I

sent a huge wreath. The New Zealand R.S.A. sent a letter regretting that it could not send a wreath to every Anzac service for which it received requests. “It seems an amazing! attitude to take, considering ! the fact that all the 71 graves |in the cemetery where the i service is held are of New ' Zealanders, and that the ser- ' vice is essentially New Zea- ; land in character,” said Mr Mellor. i He has, however, received 125 letters from New Zea- ! landers thanking him for ! what he has done. Two of the letters offered to provide [him with free accommodation if he visited New Zea- ! land. : Next year’s service at Can’nock Chase will be held under the auspices of the local branch of the British Legion, because it has be- ! come too big for the Military Historical Society to handle !