SOUTH TARANAKI’S PART.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 26 April 1928, Page 8

SOUTH TARANAKI’S PART.

OBSERVANCE AT HAWEEA. CHAPLAIN’S INSPIRING ' - - MESSAGE.

Throughout South Taranaki warming sunshine favoured the outdoor ceremonies, and together with a slight tang in the air proved reminiscent■of the conditions prevailing on the shores of Gallipoli on the memorable April morning in 1915 to those who could recall participation in the assault.

At PI awe r a the service at th© show ground© was marked by ah. inspiring address delivered by the Rev. E. S'. Jim mitt, M.C., who, as a chaplain with the British Forces on the Egyptian and European fronts during the Great War, spoke in simple terms, holding a direct appeal tortile ex-service man, hut conveying a message also to the wider portion of his 2000 auditors, ' whose appreciation was expressed in an outburst of applause when the brief address concluded.

Under the marshal, Lieut.-Colonel E. P. Cox. the parade of organised imits assembled at the Drill Hall at 10.30 a.m., and, watched by an interested concourse lining the route, marched via High Street and Camberwell Road to the show grounds. .The Municipal Band, in charge of Lieut. H. C. A. Fox, and the Pipe Band, led by Drum-Major J. Nairn, kept the column swinging with military precision. Following the leading band a brave company of 100 ex-service men, whose breasts, glistened with decorations and service medals, took the van the leadership of Lieut. H. J. Lafurent, who wore the Victoria. Cross, the award of which is the highest distinction which may be conferred on a British soldier. Then in succession came a detachment of 45 from the Queen Alexandra Mounted Rifled Regiment under Captain B. W. Smart-, 30 infantry representing B Company First Taranaki Battalion under Captain F. G. Coleman, 100 High School Cadets under Lieut. J. Harris, 60 town company Cadets under Lieut. Henderson, 50 Boy Scouts and Cubs led by Commissioner Horner, and about 120 Rangers, Guides and Brownies led by Commissioner Mrs. J. Houston. - SERVICE AT SHOW GROUNDS. On arrival at the show grounds the ex-service men were given seating accommodation in a reserved area of the stand, while the remaining units were drawn up in the vicinity of a dais, upon which were assembled his Worship the Mayor (Mr. E. A. Pacey), the Mayoress, Guide Commisioner' Mrs. J. Houston, Ensign E. Summerfield (Salvation Army), Lieut .-Colonel E. P. Cox, Scout Commissioner F. W., Horner, Mr. S. R. Veitch (president ■South Taranaki R.S.A.), Rev. E. S. Emmitt, M.C., Rev. R. E. Evans, Rev. J. R. Young, and Rev. R. L. Fursdon.

“This .is- the thirteenth anniversary of the great day when our gallant forces attacked the heights of Gallipoli,” said the Mayor, who officiated; as chairman, “and it i-s only right that we should lift our hearts in thankfulness to God that those men were willing to die that we might live.”

The service commenced with Bayer’s “Garland of Flowers,” played by the Municipal Band, which also led the singing during the remainder of the ceremony. The hymn “0 God Our Help” was followed hv- prayers, voiced by the Rev. J. R. Young, of thanks for those who were faithful unto death, for those whose lives were shattered, and for those who mourn. After the hymn “Recessional.” Lieut.Colonel Cox gave the Scripture reading, “The Wisdom of S-olomou.” the congregation joined in the Turd’s Prayer, and the -hvmn “For All the Saints” preceded the address. BONDS OF SYMPATHY.

“We- are gathered- here not so much a,s a gesture of defiance to enemies, but rather as a tribute to the common service given by- those whose love- of truth and righteousness rather than power and possessions caused them to sink self-interest in the common cause,” said the Rev. Mr. Emmitt in opening his address.

“Therefore it- is good that we gather iit tnese memorial services. Tliov may and- do revive memories of sadness. grief and loss to us as members of families. "W-lmtever our re! i. r j-o 11 s differences may be, we-, f-r>r this oucday at any rate, are a united- people, hound in a. brotherhood and sisterhood of common sympathy and suffering, but somehow, even at the heart of our grief there is a proper pride and a spirit of proud thanksgiving that loyalty and courage were so abundantly manifest among our men and lads.”

Further, those qualities were not Jacking in the womanhood of the Empire, continued Mr. Emmitt. “Here,” he said, “let us give a salute and .a word of deep gratitude to the splendid mdtlfers, 'wives and sweethearts who stood behind and were as the very soul of those' soldiers and officers “throughout that stilling period. Many

The first wreath was deposited by the Mayor, and among the many other

of ns left brothers and relatives- out there. With you, we have learned that our sorrow passed beyond that of private citizens, and it may he said that such sorrow has become sacramental. Our service was a part of that spirit of enduring sacrifice that rises at the call of a nation’s need and is the spring of all that is best in. the life, of the Empire. Such a service of suffering and sacrifice literally hapti&ecl us into <t blood brotliorJiood ? und that has- become one of the finest things in our common life.” “IF I FORGET.” If a similar need to that which brought response throughout'■the Empire shoulcL recur men who woul .1 stand forth would not be wanting, though the organisations of ex-service men were standing together to produce- that spirit which would lead to a lasting peace, and it was the common duty" to support that aim and foster the spirit of peace in order- th.at nations should not slip back into those, cluvs of barbarous strife.

Giving emphasis to this point, Mr. Emmitt rererred to the declaration of the exiles of Israel in Babylon, as recorded by the Psalmist in the words: “If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.” So if we forgot our, heroes known, and mostly unknown, we should be traitors to our common humanity, said Mr. Emmitt. “Already,” he continued, there is a tendency to deprecate our gatherings, but let us leave to the armchair critich and doctrinaires the memories of unworthy intrigues and political jugglery. Ours let it be to see that the lessons of war, learned at such fearful cost, be not lost in peace time. To fail in this will be to sully the memory of the dead.” The underlying principle was expressed powerfully in the inscription of the memorial erected in the “via sacra” at Winchester College to 550 “Wykehamists,” the text reading: Thou, therefore, for whom they died, seek not thine own, but serve as they served; and in peace and war bear thyself ever as Christ’s soldier, gentle in all things, valiant in action, steadfast in adversity. ■ P RECEPTS SUGGESTED. The speaker appealed for the earnest consideration of four precepts suggested in the light of the experience of the nations during the years of strife. “hirst,” he said, “we must learn and re-learn the lesson of self-sacrifice which is as .necessary in public service and private life as it was in war and without which no nation’s existence would be safe.

“Secondly, let ns reverence those who di|?d in the cause of the greater liberty and growing freedom of the nations.

“Thirdly, let us show gratitude to those who made the supreme sacrifice by -our scrupulous honesty,, strict sobriety, and sincerity in daily life. “Fourt-hiy, lot us remember especially those who to this day carry in their bodies and tortured nerves the marks of wounds and the strain of those trying days. We can safely leave our dead to the mercy of God, but it is up to us to see that no broken soldier is in need nor that those dear to him are left lonely and uncared for.” Mr. Emmitt expressed the earnest desire to call all to. a service in which there was no conscription, and equally no demobilisation, the service of truth, beauty and goodness according to the Christ. “lie salute the memory of our brothers who died in service,” he continued, “and we remember tenderly those who still suffer. Let us also remember, that the Cross means, above all, self-sacrifice in order- that -the greatest things in life may he safeguarded and assured. “.May they linger in our very souls,” said Air. Emmitt, in referring to the words written following an hour of Britain’s peril by the great poet John Dryden, whom Air. Emmitt quoted in conclusion as follows: Never had valour, no not ours before Done aught like this’upon the land or main, Where, not to be o’ercome,. was to do

more * Than all the conquests former kings did gain. LAST POST AND REVEILLE. The address was followed by a prayer •of intercession offered by Ensign E. Summerfield. Patriotism was expressed with fervour when all voices combined in the National Anthem, and the service terminated with the benediction pionounced by the Rev. R. L. Fursdon and the “Dead March in Saul” effectively rendered by the band. Attended by a lug proportion of those at the service, the parade marched via Surrey Street and Wellington Streets to- the memorial arch in Princes Street for the concluding ceremony. 'With, tlio assembly standing motionless and in dense formation on three sides of a square before the arch the scene provided the day’s most impressive spectacle. The concluding public prayer was given by the Rev. R E. Evans, and triple volleys from ’ a firing pa.rty echoed in salute to the heroes who gave their all. The mournful notes of “The Last Post,” sounded by Lieutenant Fox, with the muffled tatto of drums rolled by Bandsmen H. E. Robinson and F. Headley, were succeeded by the spirited “Reveille, 1 ” and in final tribute wreaths were piled round the columns of the arch.

emblems were those left by the following: First, second, third and fourth companies nawera Girl Guides, Hawera Rangers, Hawera Brownies, Hawera Scouts, Hawera Cubs, Women’s National Reserve, “Tokaora,” G. A. Harrison and family, Mr. and Mrs. Johnstone and family, and tributes to the Queen Alexandra’s Rifles and the 29tli Division. Representatives of the Women’s National Reserve and members of the four Girl Guide companies subsequently visited the Hawera cemetery and decorated the soldiers’ graves with laurel ! and flowers.