"Lest We Forget'

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7201, 26 April 1930, Page 8

"Lest We Forget'

GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL. At .the Palmerston North Girls’ High School commemoration, Col. J l . M. Rose' was ‘the principal speaker; . Ho traversed briefly the events that had led up to tho Great War and the part that Great Britain had played. New Zealand had been involved only as far as- its duty to the Motherland was concerned. He spoke of the early war rush of volunteres, their training and transportation overseas to Egypt* touching,-as he proceeded, upon the epic fight between the Sydney and the raider Emden. Then came Gallipoli. • Colonel Rose gave a vivid account of the sufferings of the women and children in France and-Belgium, spoke of the magnificent work' of the nurses and how the girls and young women of England had risen to the occasion and taken the place in civil affairs of the men who had to , proceed" across the Channel- to fight. If the girls of today would emulate their sisters of war days, they would become fine wcNnen. The women of England in 1914-18 had set a fine example of how they could meet necessities in a national crisis. The speaker concluded by expressing tho • hope that there would be no more war and that the efforts of peace conferences would not be in vain.

HQKOWHITU’S HOMAGE. “Self Must Como Last,” was the theme taken by the Rev. J. C. Draper, who spoke to tho children of Ilokowhitu school yesterday morning. Thai was tho rule of lifo in the search for happiness. The men of Anzac had thought of themselves, .last when they went to war and by so doing, had observed God’s rule of grammar by putting others first. To bring peace to earth was the sweetest task of lifo and boys and girls could be sowers of peace seeds. He urged them to say kind words at all times (wars often started with angry words), and to pray for peace. Furthermore, tkcro was the need to exercise patience if peace was to be made universal. Mr. G. Pattle, chairman of the school

committee, who presided, spoke of tho reason for observing the day. Mr. A. MeLoavcy contributed a solo and the school joined in singing Kipling’s "Recessional” and tho hymn, "0, God, Our Help in Ages Past.” The National Anthem brought the ceremony to a close. A number of wreaths were afterwards laid at the foot of the war memorial in tho Square. AT RONGOTEA. Anzac Day was celebrated at Rongotea by a combined memorial service conducted by Revs. J. D. McArthur, W. Grundy, Ensign Bridges and Mr. L. H. Yarrall, representing the citizens of Rongotca. A detachment of troopers from B. Squadron, Manawatu M.R., and a party of Girl Guides were also present. Music for the service was provided by the Palmerston North Sal* vation Army Band. In opening tho service, Mr. Yarrall outlined the purpose of Anzac Day directing his remarks more especially

Kipling’s “Recessional” was then sung by 'the assembled girls, after which Canon Woodward spoke of the meaning of Anzac and stated that tho achievements of tho British troops on Gallipoli were without comparison in history. He also spoke of the responsibility of :■ New Zealanders to the Mother Country and urged the girls to treasure the name of Anzac; always to live for truth and righteousness; always to remember they were subjects of the greatest Empire the world had ever known. The ceremony concluded with prayer and tho singing of tho National Anthem. • ' SALVATION ARMY PARADE A largely attended Anzac memorial service was' held in the Salvation Army Citadel, Broadway, presided over by J.ieut.Colonel Carmichael, Divisional Commander. On the platform was the Rev. Byeroft, who gave a stirring evangelistic address. Following a Bible reading given by Mrs Ensign Bridge, “Rock of Agcb” was sung by the sngster brigade under Leader Bell. "The Garland of Flowers” was played by the Citadel baud, at tho conclusion of which, DeputyBandmaster Clegg sounded the "Last Post.”

to the younger members of tho assembly. The usual form of service was adopted, the Rev. J. D. McArthur taking his text from verse 6, chapter 4 of Joshua. The Rev. W. Grundy read for Scripture from chapter 16 of Maris. Prayers were led by Ensign Bridges, after which tho band played the Dead March in Saul. The service was brought to a conclusion by the "Last Post” being sounded by Bandsman J. Clegg. After the service a procession was formed and marched to the Square, where the wreaths were placed at tho foot of tho monument. TECHNICAL SCHOOL. The Technical School Anzac service was conducted on Thursday morniDg, when Colonel J. M, Rose told the pupils vividly of the experiences' of the men of the Anzac Corps who assail-

Wreaths were placed by members of tne congregation, as well as a bevy ot' "sunbeams” at the base of the platform in memory of departed men. Major Suter then raised his voice in prayer to Almighty God for tho noble sacrifices of the living and the dead, and Mrs. Major Suter sang "The Christian’s Good Night.”Ensign Bridge delivered the address of the evening and proclaimed Jesus Christ as the’only way to peace in the world. "Anzac,” said the Ensign, "was a triumph, not of numbers, but of manhood over circumstances. Many of our men accepted Jesus Christ as their Saviour at the moment of their sacrifice, and it is only by a return to he Bible and the Cross of Jesus Christ that peace will ever come to the world.” »■ ■" •

ed the shot-ridden heights of Gallipoli. He spoke in glowing terms of the young men of the Manawatu district, who, after training at Awapuni, sailed they knew not whither, finally to reach Egypt and learn of their mission. The Colonel outlined the duties of the rising generation, both boys and girls and in conclusion, said that, if ever war clouds again darkened the world, he hoped the fighting would be far from jhe Dominion, for tho sake of the defenceless women and children. After singing the N a Gonal Anthem, two pupils of the school placed a beautiful wreath on the school remembrance stone.

15th- Jlnniversary .of Landing at Gallipoli

Palmerston North's Tfibute

Citizens 9 Remembrance of the Glorious Dead

Many beautiful floral emblems were placed yesterday on the Palmerston North war memorial, the outward and visible sign of the reverence in which the memory of those who wrote Anzac Day on our calendar, is held. In addition to numerous personal wreaths and those of the secondary ancl primary schools, tributes were placed by the Mayor, councillors and citizens of Palmerston North, Returned Soldiers’ Association, Manawatu Patriotic Society, Girls’ Flock House, Legion of Frontiersmen, Girl Guides, Cub and Scout packs.

TERRACE END’S TRIBUTE. The service conducted by the Rev. J. C. Abbott at tho Terrace End school was beautiful in its simplicity. Mr. W. B. Cameron, chairman of the school committee, who presided, said the school was the proper place to hold the Anzac service, so that the children might keep fresh, tho memory and .knowledge of the dead. Major R. D. Hardie, D. 5.0., a former pupil of College street school, spoke to the children. He told of the privations of the troops and their work under various fronts. The campaign in France, he said, was one of privation. There was seldom enough to eat or drink but plenty of gunfire. The N,ew Zealanders had done great and wonderful deeds. Major Hardie appealed to tho children to be good citizens. Their duty was to God, their country, and themselves. Mr. A. W. Thompson, headmaster, also spoko to tho children. The chief

prefect, Jim Huso, read tho roll of honour and Audrey Tiley recited "For the’Fallen.” The "Last Post” was sounded by Bugler Woarne. The children then placed their emblems of rcmembranco on tho memorial gates. COLLEGE ST. COMMEMORATION. The service at College street was notable for the interesting lines of the address delivered by Pastor 0. S. Matthews, who spoke to his audience as children and conveyed his message in language and similo best calculated to impress children’s minds. His message lay in tho story he told of a procession ho had seen in Chicago after the war. First had come a body of old men bearing a banner inscribed "We Were Brave.” Next came a procession of younger men, with a banner, "Wo Are Brave” and finally a procession of children with a banner which said "We Will Be Brave.” "That is my message to you,” said tho pastor, "think of the procession and bo brave.” The service was opened with three verses of the National Anthem before Mr. W. E. Taylor, chairman of the school committee, introduced Pastor Matthews. * "We come here this'morning to do honour to thoso men who counted their King and country above all. They counted the cost and - willingly and cheerfully paid that cost. Tho challenge is for you and for mo to live tho best lives we can possibly live—to live

for others and not for ourselves,” said Mr. Taylor. At the conclusion of Mr. Matthews’ address the children laid wreaths at tho foot of tho memorial in the school hall and the assembly stood for a minute ’in silence while Bugler Boyce, an old boy of the school, sounded tho "Last Post.” A member of the school committee, Mr. W. F. Cutler, recited an Anzac Day poem which he had composed for the children and three verses of Kipling’s "Recessional” and "Land of Our Birth” were sung before the cereJ mony was concluded with the Doxology. • CENTRAL SCHOOL GATHERING. i The service was carried out with fit--1 ting ‘ solemnity at the Central school yesterday morning. Wreaths were placed on the school memorial by the children, and the assembly hall was packed. Following the singing* of the National Althemjafid Kipling ’a .Cb.il-

AT BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL. The service at the Palmerston North Boys’ High School followed the procedure that has obtained for a number of years. The scholars were assembled around the Gallipoli oak planted in 191 G to commemorate tho old boys of the school who served in the War and a wreath was laid at its foot by W. Millar, head prefect. The rector (Mr. J. Murray) read David’s lament for Saul and his friend Jonathan and tho secretary of tho Old Boys’ Assocition, Mr. J. Rose, read the names of the 70 old boys who gave thoir lives on active service and whose names were inscribed in the memorial library. A brief address was delivered by Mr. B. J. Jacobs, president of the Palmerston North branch of the R.S.A.

"I prophesy that before you die you will all be known as Anzacs, because 1 feel sure that that term will one day be extended’to all the inhabitants of Australia and probably of Nov/ Zealand,” said Mr. Jacobs. "The phrase ’Anzac Day’ has more significance than any other phrase of equal size in tho language. "On April 26, 1915, New Zealand emerged as one of tho great nations of tho world through the part taken by its sons at the historical landing at Gallipoli. "I give it to you as my opinion that Anzac Day is not one of deep sadness but one of deep solemnity and o 4 deep thankfulness. "The school spirit conics to some of us when wc aro at school but it comes to all of us when wc leave school. "You have your traditions in the class rooms but you have traditions as great as any in the world on foreign battlefields. “Let the lessons of Anzac Day apply particularly to school and make certain that the names of your old boys who

gave their lives arc not smirched by anything you do at school, or after you leave it. You have witnessed the effect of the War and you are seeing tho great nations of the world come together in a friendly spirit to prevent war. A lot of people do not believe they will achieve anything but Ido believo it. I am satisfied their efforts will ultimately bo crowned with success. "You arc the ones who have to carry on tho torch of Anzac Day and I tell you honestly and in all sincerity that my observation of your generation is such that I am sure that in your hands Anzac Day will lose nothing of its solemnity or sacred lustre.” Tho hymns "Valiant Hearts” and "Lest Wo Forget” were sung.

dren’s Song,” Mr. B. J. Jacobs, president of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, spoke to the children, pointing out tho debt of gratitude owed to those sons who went to Gallipoli, France and Palestine. Followed the customary standing in silence and a prayer by Padre Brown. Kipling’s "God of Our Fathers,” was then sung. Tho Re? Brown gave a description of the landing on the fatal morning of April 25 and the scaling of the cliffs by the untrained soldiers. They left us a task and an opportunity, and if we allowed injustice and impurity to get the better of us, we failed to keep the heritage they left us, and were letting them down. The service closed with tho Doxology, and the. Benedicts