15,000 At Auckland Parade

Northern Advocate, 26 April 1940, Page 3

15,000 At Auckland Parade

[Special to “Northern Advocate.”] AUCKLAND, This Day. The dawn parade held yesterday to commemorate Anzac Day was .attended by a large crowd, estimated at from 10,000 to 15,000. The official programme was timed to begin at 5 ,a.m. and from shortly after 4 o'clock the war veterans had been assembling. At the Cenotaph in front of the Museum in the Domain, a service was held. The Rev. H. K. Vickery, who served with the Australian Imperial Force, gave a brief address in which he referred to the proud, sad memories of the day, and spoke of the powerful inspiration of the exam ole of the men who gave their lives in the last war. Gateway of Service Open “The gateway of service to our country, is open,” he slid. “If the spirit of Anzac is alive in us, there is no need to tell any man or woman where his duty or her duty lies.” The Anzac dedication, to which the crowd responded, “We will remember them,” was pronounced by the officer commanding the Northern Military District (Colonel Weir). The sounding of “The Last Post” was followed by a silence of one minute. Flags Lowered, Raised As the bugles sounded, the flags on the Cenotaph were lowered by representatives of the forces, to be raised again at a later stage when the notes of the “Reveille” rang out. The service concluded with the singing of the National Anthem, the whole proceedings lasting about half an hour. The Government was represented by the Attorney-General (Mr Mason) and the Leader of the Legislative Council (Mr Wilson). A further tribute was offered at 11 o’clock in the morning, when there was a second parade at the Cenotaph. The form of the ceremony differed little from that which has become familiar through the years. The attendance was equally as large as in the past.