HOMAGE TO DEAD

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22621, 26 April 1948, Page 6

HOMAGE TO DEAD

CITIZENS SERVICES AT CENOTAPH (PA) AUCKLAND. April 26. Under the light of the full moon 5000 people paid homage to the laden at the Anzac Day dawn ceremony of remembrance before the Cenotaph in the Auckland Domain yesterday morning. Headed by one of the famous heroes of Gallipoli, the Governor-General, Sir Bernard Freyberg. V.C., the gathering was the largest since the first service was arranged by the Australian imperial Force Ex-Servicemen's Association nine years ago. War widows and bereaved mothers and young girls not in their ’teens were among those abroad in the chill of the morning. Six hundred war veterans, including 80 who landed on Gallipoli 33 .years ago, paraded. Thirteen members of the visiting delegation of Australian ex-servicemen attended. After the hymns and prayer His Excellency pronounced the Anzac dedication and placed a wreath at the base of the Cenotaph. As 10 buglers sounded the "Last Post-” representatives of the armed forces slowly lowered the flags on the Cenotaph. A minutes’ silence followed. Ex-servicemen and women and thousands of members of the public gathered at the Cenotaph to take part in the Anzac Day ceremony at 11 a.m. when a tribute was paid to the fallen in two world wars. Bright sunshine, which was tempered by a cool breeze, favoured the ceremony which was brief and on simple lines which have been adopted in the last few years. Sinniltaneousl y and at other times during the day the 33rd anniversary of the historic landing at Gallipoli was commemorated at services elsewhere in the cily and suburbs. The parade of ex-servicemen and women was led by Air Chief Marshall Sir Keith Park. The Governor-General attended. Lady Freyberg also attended botli services.