ANZAC DAY

Grey River Argus, 26 April 1944, Page 3

ANZAC DAY

WIDE OBSERVANCE Greymouth Ceremonies The observance of Anzac Day at Greymouth yesterday was again marred by wet weather, 'though the Town Hall was filled for the main service and there were quite good attendances at those held at the Grey Main School and the United Pavilion. The parade at Greymouth in the afternoon was led by the Municipal Band, with Captain D. J. Rutter as drum-major, followed by the Grey Pipe Band, led by Mr. O. McLean, a good muster of returned men, and a group of Air Training Corps cadets. Because of the wet weather members of the Red Cross and the Boy | Scouts, and the Technical School iCadets did not parade. | The service at the Town Hall was I presided over by Rev. P. Kirkham. The Dead March was played by the Municipal Band, which also provided music for the hymns. Prayer was offer by Pastor Templeton, and the lesson, Psalm 46, was read by Rev. T. R. Page. The address was given by Rt. Rev. D. C. Herron, M.A., M.C., Moderator of the Presbyterian Church.

“We have gathered to pay tribute to. the men who at the time when life had so much to offer laid "it down for our sakes,’’ said Mr. Herron. “As the years pass there Is a danger that an unreal halo should gather around their memory as though they were supermen. They were not that. They had faults and failings just as., we have. But they were made great by the’bigness of the tasks they undertook. “Undoubtedly they had been great soldiers,” the speaker confined. “Even the enemy had recognised l that. In a schedule captured near Rissignol Wood, the New Zealand Division had been listed as one of the five best divisions in the British Forces, and much to the chargrin of that division they had been placed above the Guards. They had been great men because they were the sons of the sturdy independent pioneers who had laid the foundations of our national life, in New Zealand. Their fathers had lived clean lives and had given them a full birth-right of health and vigour. Many of them had learnt initiative, so valuable when officers become casualties, on the football field. I am sufficiently unorthodox to believe that football is a splendid training for war,” the speaker commented.

The task laid upon them had been large enough to develop all their powers. The greatest fear that many of them had had was that they might show nervousness when they came under fire. But to their surprise they had found when that actually happened that they could at least maintain outward calm. They had a great sense of fun. When conditions had been good there might have been a certain amount of grumbling, but when rations wore short and the trenches were knee deep in mud they had been full of quins and jokes. If one had been fool enough to ask them why they had come to the war they would probably have said because thev were fools. But underneath all this foolery there had been a great and deep purpose. “Surely there were never braver men than those who helped to write one of the first permanent pages of our historv in New Zealand as a Nation,” Mr. Herron said. ("There were instances of spectacular"’bravery as, for example, the scaling of the walls of Les Quesnov and the daylight raids of Dick Travis and his gang. Also well-known in our Otago Regiment. But it required an even higher courage for men to stand and be shelled in an open trench. Possibly the highest courage of all was that shown when a man stopped to bind up the wounds .of his mate when in all human probability the same gun was loading another shell to land in the same place. In the Bible we read of the men who broke through the lines of the Philistines and risked their lives to get their leader a drink from the well by the gate of ißethelem, but it was no uncommon thing for a batman to risk his lire to get his officer a packet of cigarettes. "To-day we remember but do not pity them. For those loyal to the purpose of God in this life we believe there were other tasks awaiting on the other side of what we call death. We remember that the Captain of our Salvation when He finished His career at the early age of 33 was able to say ‘it is finished. The hands of the clock are but crude instruments for measuring time and ‘One crowded hour ot glorious life is worth an age without The speaker said that all over the land that day groups of 1914-1918 men would be once again fighting then battles at Anzac Cove and Shrapnel Gully, Lone Pine Trench and gainer’s ‘Ridge, among the sand and files of Palestine, among the mud in Passchendale and Messines. Their sons who had heard these tales in the days of their youth had taken the torch from the hands of their father.') and in their day were writing a new page. Already the story of then valour in Greece and Crete at Alamein, Takrouna, the Sangro and Cassino, on Vella Lavella nnd many another battlefield was. stirring oui blood and causing us to realise that the blood of their fathers ran strongly in their veins. . We had hoped that it would not be necessary to fight again. Many a laid their lives gladly down in Wt confidence that they were end warfare. “God grant ;tl at it may be true this time. If ever theie was a glory in warfare surely it.has departed when so much of it rams down from the sky on women and nocent little children, Mi. Herion ad It e had been often said that we had won the war and lost the peace. That was true to this extent: The machinery of the League of N l at . l ? ns „ w I ?ppn have been all right had. there been the spiritual atmosphere in which u could have been made to work. Ihe watershed between war anc. peace Had been the failure of the League o take action when the Japanese i - vailed Manchuria. “That inaction, the speaker said, “was due to selfishness, and our Empire was not blameless in the matter. Had action been taken then the prestige of the League would have been enhanced, and Mussolini would never have dared to attack Abysinnia nor would Hitler have defied the League and begun his brigandage. God grant that we may dp better this time! One more war would leave this fair earth a burnt out ruin.” , , , . The present struggle had given us a new realisation of the inherent greatness of both the leaders and the rank and file of the people in Great Britain. We had never dreamed that the people born and brought up even in the slums of the East End of London could stand up to, and rise above, the hellish experience of bombing. Mr. Herron said he .had recently been reading again a poem written by an American during" the last war on the glory of England. When he had first read it he had thought it too fulsome, but recent events had caused him to realise that others had seen more clearly than he had that hidden greatness ’so carefully concealed m ordinary days beneath the surface.

“It was love for the Old Land sleeping in your nature, awakened by her danger, that called you to the colours in the last war,” the speaker concluded. “It is the same love that has taken your sons once again into the hell of battle. But while they fight jt is ours, who know the conditions, to pray that they may be kept from the veil so subtle so alluring which meets them, living as they do in unnatural conditions, that they may be strong and courageous in the day of testing and that if God in His mercy gives us victory we may have the wisdom, insight and unselfishness to use it aright.” The Benediction was pronounced by Mr. Herron, and the Last. Post was played by Bandsman V. Baxter. The service closed with the National [Anthem.

After the service the parade went to the Cenotaph, where wreaths were placed by the Mayor (Mr. F. A. Kitchingham) on behalf of citizens, and the President of the Returned Services’ Association (Mr. O. McLean) on behalf of the Association. The Municipal Band played “Garland of Flowers” and Bandsman V. Baxter sounded the Last Post.

The Grey River Hospital was then visited by about 20 members of the Returned Services’ Association. There the Matron (Miss N. Moffatt) spoke briefly, referring especially to Sisters Jamieson and Isdell, who lost their lives in the last war. An address was given by Brigadier W. Meldrum, and wreaths were placed on the Jamieson -Isdell Memorial tablet by Miss Moffatt, for nurses, and Brigadier Meldrum for the R.S.A. The Last Post was sounded by Bandsman V. Baxter. MORNING OBSERVANCES. There was a very large attendance for Requiem Mass, which was celebrated by Rev. Father V. Flaherty at St. Patrick’s Church yesterday morning. The Mass of Requiem was sun°- by the choir and at the conclusion of Mass the Dead March was played. The Chairman of the Grey Main School Committee (Mr. W. D. Taylor) presided over the service at the School, where there was an attendance of more than 70 persons. The address was given by Rev. T. G. Campbell. At the United Pavilion, Mr. T. P. Ryan presided over quite a good attendance. He said it was hoped before long to get an honours board for men of the present war. He referred to the death of Mrs. L. Morris, who for several years has placed the wreath at the Pavilion. This year the wreath was placed by Mrs. Ferguson. The address was given by the Mayor (Mr. F. A. Kitchingham), who said that just as the soldiers in the field showed the Anzac spirit by their sweat, blood, anxious thoughts, co-operation, and sacrifice so we could not expect to have a new order in civil life, either in New Zealand or elsewhere, unless we displayed similar qualities. Those present included Messrs B. Preston and A. Glen, returned soldiers from the present war. During the morning a pa’rty _ of members of the Returned Slervices’ Association placed poppies on the graves of the -130 returned . soldiers buried in Karoro Cemeterv. A poppy was also placed on the grave of Miss M. Tattersail, who was a nurse in the Crimean War. SERVICE AT BRUNNER. An Anzac service held yesterday morning in the Wallsend Hall was presided over bv Rev. T. R. Page, and Pastor Templeton gave the address. The lesson was read bv Mr. R, R. Smith. The Brunner Brass Band was. present, a member playing the Last Post, and two solos were sung by Mrs. T. Quinn. There was a very good attendance considering the wet weather. OBSERVANCE AT RUNANGA. The Anzac service at Runanga was presided over by the Mayor (Mr. E. W. Kennedy). Tne service was conducted bv Rev. E. 0. Harding and the President of the Runanga branch of the Returned Services’ Association gave the address.

ANZAC CONCERT. At the Regent. Theatre last evening there was a large attendance for the Anzac Concert. Arranged by Mr. Eddie Martin, the programme was a well varied one, being contributed by Greymouth’s leading artists. The audience were most appreciative of the various items, general, applause being the order of the evening. Mr. Eddie Martin, who is now well-known to Greymouth theatregoers, again presented his portrayals of characters from Dickens, and won hearty acclamation for his clever impersonations. Mr. W. Ford and his orchestra, played much appreciated selections throughout the evening. Mr. O. McLean (President of the Greymouth branch of the R.S.A.) on their behalf, thanked iMr. Martin and his assistants, the performers, and staff of the Regent Theatre for their willing co-operation, and the audience for their attendance. The programme was as follows: Orchestra, two selections; recitations, Misses. Adria Bush and Nance McKane; Violin solos, Ron. Outram; piano duet, Misses N. Jarvis and J. Armstrong; Dickens recital, Eddie Martin; and songs by the following: Misses Sanson, and D. Willis, Messrs J. McDougall, K. Fehsenfeld, and H. Boote. The accompanists were Mrs. Murley and Misses Z. Munson and N. Jarvis. HOKITIKA OBSERVANCE. [Our Own Correspondent.! HOKITIKA, April 2d. Wet weather marred the. observance of Anzac Day at Hokitika today. In the morning, members ot the Returned Services’ Association paraded at the cemetery, where Lieu-tenant-Colonel Fountaine laid wreaths on the graves of returned soldiers. Bugler F. Barlthrop played The Last Post. Mass was held at St. Mary s Church, at 9 a.m. A parade, comprising returned servicemen, members of" the W.W.S.A., Girl Guides, Youth Brigade and Boy Scouts, led by the Municipal Band, marched from the Soldiers’ Hall to the Regent Theatre, in the afternoon. The Mayor, Mr. A. R. Elcock, presided, and an Anzac Da v address was delivered by Mr. E. F Chivers, D.F.M., of Greymouth. Also on the platform were Revs. L. A Tlavmen. T-i. A. Childs, K. Hadfield, C L. Ward and Mr. O. J. Hutchison, (president of the R.S.A. branch) The l a,st Post was played by Luglei Bailthrnp. The parade then marchen to the South African War Memorial (the town clock) and a wreath was. placed on the structure, following which the narade proceeded to the Great War Memorial, the cenotaph, on Cass Square. There further wreaths were placed.

AT REEFTON. EOur Own Correspondent!. REEFTON, April 25. The weather was verv wet for today’s Anzac Dav observance and there was a poor attendance at the service, which was held indoors. The President of the Reefton branch of the Returned Services’ Association (Mr. W. G Porter) pres’ded and an inspiring address was given by Mr G G M. Mitchell of Grevmouth. The Ministers’ Association was represented bv Rev C R. Snrackett, Rev. J. Amos, and Rev V L. Learning. Selections were rendered by the Inangahua Silver Band. There was no procession, and the calling of the Roll of Honour, and the sounding of the Last. Post and Reveille hv Bandsman E. Baird took place in the hall.