OLD CONTEMPTIBLES

Northern Advocate, 9 April 1934, Page 5

OLD CONTEMPTIBLES

A COLOUR CONSECRATED. IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY. ‘ ‘ GLORIOUS EXAMPLE OF • COURAGE.” (Special to “Northern Advocate.”) AUCKLAND, This Day. There was an impressive ceremony nt St. Matthew’s Anglican Church yesterday afternoon, when the Colour and flag of the New Zealand Old ■’Contomptibles’ Association was consecrated by Archbishop Averill. The Governor-General, Lord Blodisloe, attended, and. after the ceremony inspected a parade of Mens veterans. ■ Before the service, members of the Auckland branch of the assoeation - gnd other ex-service units matched by way of Queen Street and Wellesley Street from the Queeh T s Wharf to St. Matthew’s Church. So large was the attendance at the church that the church hall had to be used as well, and there loud speakers were installed. Amongst those present were the New Zealand patron of the association, Sir George Richardson, the . Mayor, Mr G. W. Hutchison, and representatives of the various forces and ' local bodies. Canon C. H. Grant Cowen conducted the service arid His Excellency read the lesson. The Colour and flag were presented by standard-bearers, and after consecration buglers played . ■the “Last Post.” In a sermon, Archbishop Averill 1 said that it was a privilege to be associated with the honouring of the memory of men’who played a wonderful part in the first months of the war in preventing the defeat of the Allies. The colour would be held as an honoured and sacred symbol of the remaining members in New Zealand of Britain’s first expeditionary, force, and by the public. They were proud of the men who had gone from all'parts of the Empire to follow the example of the “Contemptible Little •Army” and save the world from tyranny and oppression. The British Army’s rearguard actions, fought from Mons to the Marne, had set a glorious example of courage, grit and discipline. The men at Mons upset the enemy’s plans and laid the foundation for subsequent stubborn defence. Much as war was hated, they had to express thanks to God for the example of men who had bequeathed to posterity- an imperishable name.