ANZAC COMMEMORATION

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 96, 26 April 1939, Page 12

ANZAC COMMEMORATION

Observation in Woodville

WREATHS LAID ON MEMORIAL Solemnly and witn reverence the men of Anzac were remembered in Woodville yesterday, a service taking place at the Cosy Theatre and then a ceremony at Fountaine Square. More than 300 people attended the service, which was conducted under the supervision of the Mayor, Mr. R. R. Johnston, Revs, B. P. Williams, L). H. Hay and T. Coatsworth, and (Japtam L. H. Jones taking part. Also on the platform were Mr. G. Wickes, president of the Woodville Returned Soldiers Association, and County Councillor G. Peebles. For the National Anthem and the hymns, “Jesus Shall Reign,’’ “Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken’’ and Kipling’s “Recessional,” the music was played by tho Salvation Army Band. In the last 24 years since Anzac, said Rev. B. P. Williams in his address, a new generation had arisen practically untouched by the war, but who had tried to glean something of what was done and so they greeted those returned with gratitude and remembered in silence their fallen comrades. As the years progressed, he said, a gulf between tho two generations was widen-

“Yours was a lot of adventure, daring, tragedy and horror,” the speaker said to the returned men. ‘ ‘ Through all your reason was kept by something that was almost heaven itself—a' true comradeship such as you have never known since.” Tho sense of it was lost at home, he added. Such comradeship. he thought, was Christianity at its highest. Fundamentally, the desire to preserve life was stronger than to kill, but human nature was at times overcome by circumstances. Mr. Williams appealed for a moral re armament by firmly combating the fear complex within ourselves.

The returned soldiers, Girl Guides and Brownies marched behind tho Salvation Army Band to the memorial in Fountainc Square after the service. Mr. A. Ramsdeu was the marshal. Here the short but impressive ceremony of remembrance was watched by many in the peaceful setting of trees and lawn. Wreaths were placed at the foot of the memborial by the U.S.A. president (Mr. Wickes), tho Mayor (Mr. Johnston; and County Councillor Peebles, on behalf of their respective organisations, and also by the Girl Guides. Other tributes placed privately included tokens fioin tho Women's Division of the Farmers' Union, Women’s Institutes of Woodville and Papatawa, and St. David's Sunday School. The “Last Post” and “Reveille” were sounded by Mr. D. Kcay.