TRIBUTE PAID

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 55, Issue 32705, 26 April 1946, Page 5

TRIBUTE PAID

SERVICE AT CENOTAPH BEAUTIFUL WREATHS CROWD LESS THAN USUAL Although the weather was gloriously fine a less than usual crowd assembled in Paeroa on Thursday to pay fitting tribute to those who made the supreme sacrifice in the Boer 'War, the Great War and the World conflict, just ended. The service was held at the Cenotaph on Primrose Hill following a parade held in the Post Office Square. Many beautiful wreaths, both official tributes and from the general public, were placed on the cenotaph. Thursday was the first Anzac Day commemorated in Paeroa since the cessation of hostilities and it was fitting said His Worship the Mayor, Mr Edwin Edwards, that the weather should be such permitting the service to be held at the cenotaph for the first time for four years. The parade under the command of Lieut. Col. J. H. Bartlett, formed up in the Pest Office Square and led by the returned servicemen and followed by the 'Pheroa Municipal Band, home servicemen, cadets, cadet Air Training Corp, fire brigade, St. John Ambulance, girl guides, andi boyi scouts, inarched via Normanby road, through the Arney street entrance to the Cenotaph on Primrose Hill; His> Worship the Mayor took the salute' as the parade marched passed* the Municipal Chambers. Some pupils of the Paeroa District (High Slchool and St. Joseph’s Convent School also attended the function being assembled 1 at the Cenotaph where a small crowd had also gathered. Official Party The official party consisted of the Mayor, Mr Edwin. Edwards, Lieut.-Col. S. J. Hedge, Capt. M. G. Fowler, Messrs. G. A. Avery. J. Walmsley, A. A. Jenkinson, F J. Johnston, G. Ruscoe, R. S. Nicol, G. W. Moore, Archdeacon W. G. H. Weadon, Capt. J. ’Sampson (Salvation Army). and Father W. O’Meara. The service* opened with the singing of the National Anthem led by the Paeroa Muncipal Band', after which wreaths were placed on the cenotaph by members of the official party and the organisations represented in the parade followed by tributes from the school children and the general public. (During the placing of the wreaths the band played "Garland of Flowers.” , A hymn “All People That On Earth Do Dwell” was. sung, followed by a prayer offered by Archdeacon W. G. H. Weadon and a scripture lesson read by 'Capt. J. Sampson of the Salvation Army. Address by Lieut. Col. Hedge A short address given by Lieut. Col. S. J. Hedge was followed by the hymn “Lead Kindly Light” and the benediction was pronounced by Mr G. W. Moore.

The "Last Post” was sounded by Bandmaster E. Beilby, followed by one minute’s silence and; the “Reveille.”