THE HONORED DEAD

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXI, Issue 12399, 12 November 1934, Page 5

THE HONORED DEAD

IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY IN MELBOURNE.

SHRINE OF. REMEMBRANCE.

DEDICATED BY DUNN

MOST REMARKABLE ASSEMBLAGE SEEN IN CITY

(U.P.A. b v .Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Roc. Nov. 11, 7.J0 p.m.) MELBOURNE, Nov. 11

The weather relented somewhat this morning, when the Duke dedicated the Shrine of Remembrance. The sun shone occasionally through heavy clouds upon the most remarkable assemblage ever witnessed in Melbourne. . Hours before 11 a.in. crowds began to arrive, until when the ceremony began the approaches to the Shrine and the lawns, on the St. Kilda and Domain roads, were packed by a living mass estimated at more than .300,000. Massed hands opened the proceedings with hymns. At 10.43 a.m. Lord Huntingfield, the Duke, and party. arrived and entered the sanctuary, assembled and bowed their heads before the Rock ol Remembrance, awaiting the eleventh hour when the “Eye of Light” shone across the stone. Emerging in solemn procession the Royal party proceeded to the dais, where the first address was delivered by General Chauvcl, chairman of the Shrine trustees, the Premier, the Hon. G. Argyle, following.

A REMINDER. OF SACRIFICE.

KIPLING’S POEM READ

(U.P.A. bv Elec, Tel. Copyright) (Roc. Nov. 11, 11.20 p.m.) MELBOURNE, Nov. 11

The Duke said: “This noble shrine is erected as a token of our gratitude not only as a- symbol to bo seen by all who come to this great city, but as a. reminder also that the sacrifice of those men and women lays a duty on us who follow. They fought to secure World blessings and peace. It is for us to seek to repay their devotion by striving to preserve that peace to the glory of God and in grateful memory of the men and women of this State who served in the Great Mar I dedicate this slrrinc.”

Before inviting the Duke to dedicate the shrine, the Hon. G. Argyle read Kipling’s especially written poem the first verse being:—

“So long as memory, valour and faitli endure Let these stones witness through the years to come How once this was a people fenced secure -Behind great waters girdling a far home.’’

Six verses describe the Australians war. exploits, the final verso being:—

“Then they returned to their desired land— The kindly cities and plains where they were bred. Having revealed their nation in earth’s sight— So long as sacrifice and honor stand And their own sun at the hushed hour shall light— The shrine of these, their dead.

Twenty-seven thousand troops of aU units, including a large contingent ot New Zealanders, assembled at various points before the ceremony and at a given signal, marched and converged near the slifine. marching 120 abreast Then, dividing, they formed a lane for the Royal party. While in the slirine, the Duke ’-’.i-; on the Rock of Remembrance the King’s wreath. No other wreaths were presented until after the cere

mony. Throughout' the afternoon. the. a was a. continuous stream of people bearing wreaths. Many in the vast assembly remained in the vicinity ot the shrine till sundown.

VICTORIA’S' GREAT WAR memorial UNIQUE “EYE OF LIGHT” SHINES ONLY AT 11 A.M. ON NOVEMBER H (U.P.A. bv Elec. Tel. Copyright) MELBOURNE, Nov. 11. A monument of beauty, .not a tomb; a sacrament and a prayer; a house of love beyond tlie grave; and a memorial to sacrifices- which wo hope and believe have not been in vain—these are' the descriptions which have been applied to the Shrine of Remembrance, Victoria’s great war memorial which was dedicated to-day bv Sis Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester. The ceremony took place ill'the presence of a. vapt reverent assembly of citizens in place of tlie usual Armistico Day service which is conducted each year at the eleventh hour j of the eleventh day of the eleventh luimth. In color and dignity and sincerity flic service was unequalled in the history of tho State. i “Lot all men know that this is holy ground'; this Shrine established ,in the hearts of. men as on the solid earth commemorates a people’s, fortitude and sacrifice. Ye therefore that come alter give iemembrauee.” . , - ■ - ■ This inscription on tho western wall of, the inner Shrino beneath-tlie great dome of the imposing building testifies the people’s acknowledgement of tlie war sacrifices of Victorians; amid, a setting of sculpture in dhrk marble, mahSiyo - lonic columns and majestic monoliths it'is'an .bpitapli which will remihd, generations °f the’ great events of 1914-18. Built at cost of £260,000 the Shrine

stands on an elevation ait a bend ..da the famous tree-lined St. Kiltia road and on the fringe of the Botanical Gardens in such : S?’position, that it dominates the landscape for miles around. Though a mile'from the city its great bulk looms imposingly in tho view down Swanston street, one of the main city thoroughfares; it is a landmark which can be seen from far out to sea ; and from the surrounding hills itr> stands out conspicuously among the city’s architecture; Composed entirely, of elaborated stone and marble its walls and. bases are balustraded with magnificent simplicity. Each parapet commands sweeping panoramic views of tho city arid tho surrounding country; arid °n the walls above the terraces the names of the great battles in which the Australians fought are inscribed. Within the Inner Shrine are housed -12 caskets of bronze which contain the Books of Remembrance tho parchment pages of which are inscribed with manuscript records of the names of the Victorian soldiers and sailons who died during the war Here also is the “King's Book,” inscribed with the special message of His Majesty the King, “Let their names he for ever held in proud remembrance.”

A culm religious atmosphere pervades the inner Shrine. In the centre of a paved marble floor is the Rock of Remembrance, a plain slab of dark marble sunk below tile pavement in such a manner that every head must hew to read the inscription which it hears, “Greater nove Hath No Man.” On to tin’s Rock of Remembrance each Armistice Day at 11 a.m. shinty;' the “Eye of Light,” a shait ■of daylight which gleams through an aperture which has been placed so scientifically in the dome that only on this day- at- 11 a.m. each year does the “Eye of Light” penetrate to the I'ock of Remembrance. Around the walls of the Inner Shrine ispace has been provided for eight sculptured sentinels—the Guardians of the Shrine—Love, Peace, Courage, Integrity, Faith, Strength, Brotherhood, and Honour. Beneath the floor is a crypt to which two sets of stone stairs dc-Fcend and which contains the unit memorials of the Australian Imperial Forces, and tiie Royal Australian Navy. ThV, briefly, is the solemn edifice which His Royal Highness dedicated to-day.

SYDNEY CENOTAPH SERVICE.

GRENADIER GUARDS E AND PLIY CEREMONIAL MUSIC. (U.P.A. by Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Ree. Nov. 11, 7.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, Nov. 11. Armistice Day services were held throughout the uay in the city and suburbs. The main service at the Cenotaph in the morning was attended by a huge crowd, those present including the Governor, Sir Philip ‘Game, the Premier, representatives of the State and Federal Parliaments, Denominational heads and representatives of the Naval, military and Air Forces. An impressive feature of the service was the playing of the ceremonial music by the band of the Grenadier Guards.

SER VICES IN WELLINGTON

WHAT DAY COMMEMORATED r

“.MOST WELCOME SILENCE EVER FELT ON EARTH." (Press Association* WELLINGTON. Nov. IQ Armistice Day was marked in Wellington by a special open air service in the Basin Reserve, following which returned men, 500 strong, marched through the city streets to the citizens War Memorial, where a wreath of remembrance was laid.

Addressing the men, Canon Percival James said: “This day commemorates the most welcome silence that ever fell upon this earth, when after four years of mechanical massacre and chemical annihilation, the Great War which in its hideous monstrosity had dwarfed all wars of history as suddenly as it had begun, came to an end. and there -e]i a great hush over the long-drawn battle line.”

Special armistice services were held in all the city churches. Mr. V. Nash, M.P.. gave an address at the citizens’ armistice service at the V osley Methodist Church. The First Battalion Wellington Regiment paradox! at St. Paul’s Pro-Cathedral. They lield a reunion last night.