TWO MINUTES’ SILENCE

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 41, 12 November 1937, Page 13

TWO MINUTES’ SILENCE

Armistice Day Observed In Wellington

OLD SOLDIERS PARADE Citizens stood bareheaded in Wellington streets and the fitful roar of the traffic and business of the city was stilled for two minutes yesterday morning in commemoration of the signing, 19 years ago, of the armistice that ended the Great War. In brilliant sunshine, 200 old soldiers mustered at the War Memorial at Bowen Street shortly before 11 o’clock for the main Armistice Day observance. Among them were many men prominent in political and business circles. The president of the Wellington Returned Soldiers’ Association, Colonel A. Cowles, headed the parade. The Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates acted as marker, as the returned men, hatless and in mufti, fell in in several curving ranks facing the white stone column. Among them were Colonel J. Hargest, Captain A. C. A. Sexton, the Hon. F. Waite, M.L.C., Mr. J. Spence, secretary of the Wellington Returned Soldiers’ Association, and Mr. C. A. L. Treadwell. The grassy ’ slopes between the War Memorial and Parliament Buildings were crowded with spectators; the level street wa_s filled with an animated throng, bringing the numbers of those present to a total of many hundreds. Shortly before the hour, the president of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, Hon. William Perry, M.L.C., and Colonel Cowies, marched up the steps bearing a wreath of bays, with which they entered the shrine at the foot of the column. As they emerged, having deposited the wreath, the clock struck the hour. Simultaneously the shrill notes of a bugle rang out from somewhere in the town. Floating across the harbour water came the sullen, deep-toned report of the cannon on Point Jerningham. And instantly the cheerful uproar of the busy morning traffic, and the chattering voices of the crowd, fell abruptly silent. A man walking across Lambton Quay stopped suddenly, in mid-street. A tram descending Molesworth Street came to a standstill with a sharp grinding of brakes. The only sound was the noisy flapping of the flags above the doorway of the memorial. Motionless in the sunshine, the 200 returned soldiers stood with impassive faces, staring straight in front of them, thinking, remembering. No doubt they were living again in the scenes of a score of years ago—Gallipoli, Flanders, France —walking and talking with longdead comrades. But what they thought was not written on their faces as they stood, steady-eyed on parade. The two long minutes elapsed; a second loud report from the” battery recalled them from memories of 20 years ago to the realities of to-day. Two buglers stood at the foot of the steps, facing the parade. As the echoes of the gunshot reverberated among the hills, Bugler H. Petterson placed his instrument to his lips, and the crowd thrilled to that poignant, stirring call dedicated to the dead and known as “The Last Post.” When he had finished, Bugler F. C. Chegwin blew the “Reveille,” and, as meu awakened from sleep, the parade broke up. , The observance of the two minutes silence was an impressive ceremony on board the Union Company’s express liner Awatea. On the stroke of 11 o’clock, the ship’s bugler sounded the “Still,” and all work ceased immediately. Ten seconds later the “Last Post” was sounded, and after a like interval came the “Reveille.” At the end of the two minutes the bugler soundjjd “Carry-on,” and work was resumed. MEANING OF ARMISTICE

Farmers’ Institute Service A short but impressive Armistice Day Service was held in the Conference Hall of the Dominion Farmers’ Institute building yesterday, when more than 200 people were addressed by Mr. Leslie Lefeaux, governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, and the Rev. Arthur Muriel, who served in the Australian Imperial Forces during the Great War. In his introductory remarks, Mr. Lefeaux said he preferred to regard Armistice Day as an occasion on which to remember that every citizen of the British Empire had a duty to preserve the heritage of those who fell in the Great War rather than as a day which to many people served only to remind them of the Inevitability of Avar. Armistice was not peace, it was a cessation of hostilities, but It should be tho task of all to make it mean peace. “Peace is not to be gained by passive means, it must be sought after,” said Mr. Muriel in his address. He stressed the fact that Armistice Day was now becoming an occasion for the reconsecration of the ideals that were defended in the Great War rather than a sad remembrance of those who had sacrificed their lives. Peace demanded as aggressive a partisanship as was displayed by the war-makers In their claims for war. Present conditions, in which world communications had made no place isolated, demanded an international outlook and education that would lead to a universal goodwill on earth. The hymn “God of Our Fathers” was sung at the conclusion of the two minutes’ silence, at 11 a.m. and the service closed with the singing of the National Anthem. The service was arranged by Mr. Leigh Hunt, managing director of the Dominion Farmers’ Institute. AUCKLAND CEREMONY (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Auckland, November 11. This morning thousands of city workers stopped on either side of Queen Street as the ferry clock sounded the hour of eleven. Buglers stationed at Intervals along the street sounded the “Last Post.” The crowd stood bareheaded in silence until the buglers sounded single notes as the signal for traffic to resume. The official ceremony at the Cenotaph in the Domain was attended by citizens for many of whom the occasion had a deep personal significance. Major-General Sir George Richardson represented the mayor. The ceremony of changing flags on the Cenotaph was carried out by representatives of the various defence services, and the laying of wreaths by representatives of public bodies, returned soldiers’ organisations, schools, and private citizens. SIMPLE DUNEDIN CEREMONY By Telegraph—Press Association. Dunedin, November 11. Dunedin observed Armistice Day in glorious weather with a simple cere-

mony at the Soldiers’ War Memorial. A wreath was placed on the cenotaph by representatives of the R.S.A. and the Imperial ex-Soldiers’ Association, and another by the South African War Veterans' Association.