“A MILLION DEAD”

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10741, 12 November 1928, Page 5

“A MILLION DEAD”

FALLEN HEROES

. -REMEMBERED WITH CRATITUDE AND PRIDE.

It ACE HAS NOT WEAKENED

US NOT FORGET THE LIVING.

PRINCE OF WALES ASKs HELP ;4 FOR EX-SERVICEMEN;. United Preua Asun. by El. Tel Copyright '(-'.'mV'-' ’.,.;' (Times Cablea.7 >,.- ■■■ ■(Received Nov. 11> 5.5 p.m,) I, ■, y LONDON, Nov. 9. The Prince of Wales contributes a signed article to the Times Special .War .Graves number, commemorating- the., tenth; anniversary of \ the 'Armistice. He extols the work .of the:.!-War Graves Commission and “says:. : Trr' , .

''- y-"it is hot easy to grasp the meaning of the w ; ords ‘a, million dead’ but when one- remembers what, splendid fellows they -were, And what hopes and . affections clung to ’ each,'. one , begins' to get "some conception of the sacrifice the Empire made. We can feel no ; otheri, sentiment than gratitude ' and pride.. 1 t ;f ; -;jfAll over the world our dead .lie, r but "whether they be solitary or in ✓company, and regardless of their rank, or what portion of the Empire they came from, all are treated with the same reverence and . tender care, and the some type of headstone is over them. -They gave their lives iii the service of the Empire. In that, as in death, . all. are equal. “It is impossible not to be specially touched by the. thought of the missing. It is almost an extra patent of gallantry to be among the missing. “The race has not weakened. These million dead are silent witness to that. “In honoring the dead let us not forget the living. We do not yet do justice to Earl Haig’s greatness. He gave all his heart to the welfare, oi the man who fought with him. In his name, and in the name of these million dead, I appeal for help to make the lot of all soldiers richer in things worth while.”

WREATH FORI NEW ZEALAND

FORWARDED BY BRITISH EMPIRE SERVICE LEAGUE

TO BE KEPT BY PREMIER IN PARLIAMENT HOUSE

(Press Association.) . WELLINGTON, Nov. 11. “To-day on behalf of the people of New ’Zealand I accept this emblem of remembrance. I sincerely hope the memories it recalls will be kept so green-that never again will it be the lot of nations to come into conflict with the resultant loss and wastage.” . ... In these words, the Prime Minister .(Rt, Hon. J. G. Coates), received at the steps of Parliament House to-day the wreath forwarded to New Zealand through the New Zealand Returned Soldiers Association, by the British Empire Service League. The ' handing-over ceremony was simple and brief but impressive. Fpl towing the morning service at £he Salvation Army citadel, the parade •of . returned soldiers, headed by the citadel band, marched to the Parliamentary grounds, where a fairly Mrge.number of people had assembled.

Speaking on behalf of the N.Z. .Returned Soldiers’ Association, Mr W. Perry explained that the wreath had been forwarded in accordance witji t"he wish of the late Earl Haig thaT a wreath should be placed on national -war memorials in each of the capital cities of the Empire on each Armistice Day. As there wasyet no national war memorial in Wellington, it had been decided to hand the emblem to the Prime Minister at the steps to Parliament, House.

X'.'it. is with a deep sense of duty that I accept this tribute to our {honored dead”, said the Prime Minister. "In the meantime it shall lie :n Parliament House, representing the .’head of our constitution in Ne>v Zealand. Later, when the national war memorial is erected, the wreath shall have its place annually at tb© foot of that memorial. It will he" m safe keepng until such time as it is taken to another resting place.” THE SPIRIT OF BROTHERHOOD. EARL JELLICOE’S GREETINGS TO N.Z. R.S.A. (Press Association) WELLINGTON. Nov. 10. The New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association has received the following greetings from Earl Jellicoe: "The thoughts of all the Empire on this,, the tenth anniversary of the signing of the Armistice, will turn with gratitudo to the men who brought victory to our arms in the Great War, and perhaps most of all to those who gave their lives in achieving victory, but all will, I hope, dwell upon one of the seasons which brought about that victory, and at the same time demonstrated to the world the unity of the British Empire. Who can forget the magnificent response made by the whole Empire to the call to arms ? From all parts of the worldmen came, Britain’s sons and descendants of Britain’s sons, to help the Mother Country in her struggle to protect the weak and uphold tho sanctity of a signed agreement. It is ■with this thought in my mind that I send warm greetings to the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association in the belief that in tho British Empire Service League wo have an organisation that will foster the spirit of brotherhood which was so strongly evident in 1914.”

ARMISTICE DAY COMMEMORATION INI NEW ZEALAND WELLINGTON. (Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Nov. 11. Special references were made to Armistice Day in all the churches, and tho two minutes’ silence was o?!> served., A military parade was held this morning in the Salvation Army Citadel. Mr. Coates was present, and expressed his satisfaction at the turnout. At a crowded peace demonstration meeting in the Town Hall, tho following resolution was carried unanimously: "On this day of grateful remembrance, we, tho citizens of Wellington, declare our detestation of War and our earnest desire for permanent; peace, based on international friendship and on general disarmaiheht.” . Or - ■ DUNEDIN. - (Press Association.) '■ : dunedin; Nov. ii. ; The tenth Anniversary of the signing of Armistice fell to-day. when tho usual services ; were ‘ held. The weather was cold and unpleasant, and sharp showers fell throughout the day. In addition to an outdoor service oji the step® of St.. Paul’s Cathedral, and the usual people’s service in the Cathedral in the evening, ; all the. churches of the .city held specia: services to commemorate the occasion. ~A mass meeting of citizens was''held and church parades were held by the Druidic Order and Boy Scouts.