Whangarei Honours Her Anzacs Impressive Ceremonial; Inspiring Message

Northern Advocate, 26 April 1940, Page 3

Whangarei Honours Her Anzacs Impressive Ceremonial; Inspiring Message

\\7HANGAREI TURNED OUT IN ITS HUNDREDS YESTERDAY TO HONOUR THE MEN WHO, 25 YEARS AGO, GAVE THEIR LIVES THAT FREEDOM MIGHT FLOURISH AND PEACE REIGN IN THE WORLD. Streets won* lined as the military parade moved off promptly at U) a.m. to mareli lo the Town Hall tor the eommemoration service. The Town Hall was packed and scores oh people, unable in Hm 1 room inside, listened to the service—and actively participated in it—on the pavement outside. The attendance must have been in the vicinity of 1500. It was acknowledged as one of the best-attended Anzac Days in Whangarei for many years past. inside the Town Hall, flags and bunting hung, and on the stage was a cenotaph in miniature. Recruiting notices, that seem part of the standard decorations these days, took on a more significant note: "\oung men. see that our An/.acs did not die in vain."

New World Vision.

It was a vision of a new world—a brave new world, with everlasting amity between the nations —that the speaker (the Rev. George Brown, of the Waikato R.S.A. and now minister at the Methodist Church, Whangarei, presented to his congregation. Just such a vision it was that sent khaki-clad New Zealanders overseas 25 years ago, to shed their blood or.

Anzac Cove, on the fields of Flanders and other great battle grounds of me Great War. 'lhe world wondered what men from a country not a century old would be like on tne baitle neid. But it was proved that in tfteir veins ran the blood oi tne Empire’s heroes. They were men whose ancestors had taken part in the historic campaigns of England. They were men who had won homes from the forests and made towns in a virgin land. Died to Save Democracy. "Today we commemorate those who gave their lives in that epic struggle that was a war to end war and to save Democracy,” the speaker said. “We mourn the dead; we will not forget them; they will live forever in our memory. “We must remember something more—that we are the trustees of those who gave their lives in battle. “They have handed on a trust that today we must preserve most carefully. “We Are Trustees.” “Because we are their trustees we must envisage the day when war will be no more known between nations, and when the teachings of Christ are no longer mere ideals but are the practical things of human life. “We must see to it that the spirit which is the base of Nazism is overcome by something more in keeping with the spirit that sent the Anzacs to war 25 years ago.” The Rev. Brown spoke of a religious conference held in the heart of a Belgian forest. Led by the Primate of Norway, it sent to the heads of European Governments what it believed should be the basis of the brave new world that should arise. Great Responsibility. “We have a wonderful heritage and a great responsibility, so that when this war is over we may see coming the very thing for which our fellows died 25 years ago,” he continued. “It must not be said that they died in vain.” A prayer, led by the Rev. Wm. Elliott, who, as preseident of the Whangarei Ministers’ Association, was in charge of the order of service, a hymn played by the Salvation Army Band, with the congregation joining in fullvoiced, the National Anthem, and the commemoration service was over. Joint Parade. In the streets outside the parade lined up again. Medals displayed on civilian clothing, old soldiers headed the march, led by the Whangarei Municipal Band. Following came military units in their smart khaki, marching to the skirl of the pipes of the Whangarei and County Pipe Band. Youth followed —the ' High School cadets immediately on the heels of the Whangarei Boys’ Band, then High School girls, in their neat blue and white uniforms, the Salvation Army Band, and then the Boys’ Brigade, Girls’ Life Brigade, Girl Guides, Wolf Cubs and Boy Scouts. It was a march of past, present and future. Ceremonial at Cenotaph. With units of the parade lined up in columns on the roadway and the public lining the streets, the most impressive ceremonial of all commenced at the Cenotaph in the Triangle. On the railway embankment people gathered. Some straddled the advertising hoardings—and on one Was blazoned the clarion call of the Anzacs: “Enlist Now.” In his scarlet robes of office the Mayor (Mr W. Jones) accompanied Mrs Jones for the laying-on of the first wreath. Then Mrs J. Beeston—who saw service with the W.A.A.C. in France —accompanied by the president of the Whangarei R.S.A. (Mr G. A. Betheli) laid the second wreath upon the Cenotaph.

The League of Mothers wreath was added by Mrs J. A. Inkster. Others followed. Military Wreaths. First of fhe military wreaths was carried by Captain Conyers-Brown, and others by representatives of the various units. Elderly women, dark-garbed, added floral tributes for sons who answered duty’s call 25 years ago and never came back. Eyes were dimmed and tears not far away. Somewhere in the ranks of the returned men a man sighed deeply. Memories were stirred. Then came the tributes of youth—wreaths from the High School girls, the Girl Guides, Girls’ Brigades, Boy Scouts and Boys’ Brigades. Small children marched forward, too, with more wreaths to the memory of those who had fallen. Deeds Now Traditions. Children they were of tender years, whose knowledge of men they honoured could not have been personal. But they had been told of the deeds of Anzacs—deeds that are now traditions. On the railway embankment a silver trumpet sounded. Somewhere in the distance a second echoed the notes of the first as Reveille was blown. The Cenotaph ceremonial was ended. Up Bank Street the combined parade marched again to give the salute to the Mayor on the flag-draped platform outside the Post Office, which was the saluting base. Accompanying him were Colonel McCarroll and Captain Conyers-Brown and the Town Clerk (Mr L. O. Hall). “Yes,” said Colonel McCarroll, officer in charge of the parade, asked if there were points in the parade which should be emphasised. “The marching of the High School girls was excellent. The veterans turned out well and the boys in camp made a fine showing.” Colonel McCarroll paused. It was obvious that each man, woman and child on parade had given his best to do honour to the men who laid down their lives 25 years ago in the name of freedom.