LAHDING AT GALLIPOLI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17145, 26 April 1919, Page 10

LAHDING AT GALLIPOLI.

\ -FOtIRTH ANNIVERSARY.' r /' AUCKLAND COMMEMORATION SOLEMN OBSERVANCE. IMPERISHABLE MEMORIES. The fourth anniversary of the historic landing of New Zealanders on Gallipoli was commemorated yesterday, when memories of the first great Ansae Day filled with pride and sorrow tho hearts of all those whose lives had touched tho lives of .those who took part in that great adventure. The passing of the years has brought healing to many hearts and pain and grief of loss have been lessened by the gentle hand of time, but the glory of the great sacrifice mado by those who valiantly fought and died has not, nor ever c&n be, dimmed by the passing years. The fact that yesterday marked the first Anzao cowraenloratiou in time of peace added a sense of even greater pride and import to its observance. No longer is the land where New Zealand's ' sons lie sleeping under the sign of the Crescent; final vindication of their great endeavour has come since last the people of the homeland assembled lo do them honour. And to those also who fought, and lived to return, the day therefore had especial significance. The dawning of the fourth Anzac Day . was calm and beautiful as that en which the ships first drew in to the annamed Galiipoh bay that was the scene of th* immortal landing. Ail tnr.u u ii t,u« u_y thoro was sunshine and warmth and brightness of sky that came as a benediction to the sorrowful, and a token of gladness and pride and the beauty of life. The various commemoration services were attended by great crowds, whose participation was not that of the more onlooker, but of thoso whose hearts were filled with tho sense of the solemnity and poignant memories of the dav Other great anniversaries have coiio, and will come, but that of Ansae Day will ittand for all time imperisliably enthroned in the hearts of the people, a glorious memory and an undying inspiration. IMPBESSIYE CEBEMONY. SERVICE AT THE DOMAIN. WORDS OF INSPIRATION. "THE NATION'S .MANHOOD." The official commemorative service at the Domain yesterday wafe at once an impressive and inspiring ceremony. Many thousands of citizens were in attendance, assembled around a platform erected on j the cricket ground. The Mayor, Mr. J. H. Gunson, presided. Seated on his right Was His Excellency the Governor-General and pa his left the Countess of Liverpool. ' There were also present on the platform : the Mayoress, Mrs. J. H. Gunson, Bishop I and Mrs. Averill, Colonel H. R. Potter, I officer commanding the Auckland military i district, and his staff, trie Hons. Mfijor j Harris and G. J. Garland, M.kC.'s, , Messrs. C. H. Poole and A. Harris, M.P.'s, ' Mr. H. D. Heather, chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board, Mr. A. A. Window, American Conaul-General, M. L. Hippeau, Consular France. Mr. A. M. Ferguson, Consul' for Belgium, and the Consular representatives, members of the executive of the Returned Soldiers' Association, and ' prominent citizens and representatives of local and patriotic bodies. * i I 'The service commenced with tho singing of the National Anthem. A prayer was offered by/the Rev. J. R. Burgin, C.F., ' and addresses were given by Dr. A. W. ! Averill; Anglican Bishop of Auckland, and the Revs. if. W. Shaw and E/,L. Garner, chaplains to the forces. The " Dead March" ] in " Saul" was pteyed by the combined ! Garrison Artillery and Third Auckland Mounted Rifles Bands, and the "Last Post" was sounded by a bugler, tho assemblage standing* Among the hymns ' were "All People' That on Earth do Dwell," " Praiso to Our God," " 0 God Our Help in Ages Peat," and Kipling's " Recessional." Sacredness of the Say. Bishop Averill gave a forceful and impressive address, which was listened to with the keenest interest. He caid hehoped they were all determined, that Ansae Day should never deteriorate into a mere holiday. (Cries of " Hear, hear.") It was a day which ought to live, had a right to live, and must live, for it was not only a day sacred to the memory of valiant deeds, but was of priceless value to the generations to come—it was allimportant that the present and future generations should catch the inspiration arising from the noble deeds of the men who made Anzac Day, and in doing so established a mountain feat in the great mountain chain of noble deeds to the credit of the British race. Speaking of the permanence of ABzac Day, Bishop Averill expressed the hope that public opinion would compel the ! Government to gazette April 25 as a permanent day of remembrance for New Zealand soldiers who fought and died in '• the war, in whatever theatre. The Anzacs wouicTbe the first to recognise that New Zealand soldiers had accomplished many splendid deeds on battlefields other than aliipoli. There were many dajs which were sacred, and which many .would liko to commemorate, especially in connection with the western front, and there was the devotion and courage of the mounted brigade in Egypt and Palestine. Wero not their exploits worthy of commemoration ? After paying a tribute to the work of the men under Sir Edmund Allenby, Dr. Averill expressed the hope that Anzao Day would be a day of national com- : memoration for the brave men who gave their lives in Gallipoli, France, Belgium, I Egypt, Mesopotamia, Palestine, and Eng. land, and these who succumbed to tho influenza epidemic in camps and on trans, ports, Graves of the Fallen. By their actions the Anzacs had arftwered the lie circulated by the Germans that the British, by their devotion to sport, had deteriorated, and had loslt their power to take things seriously. The lie had also been answered when French's ""contemptible little army" had caved the situation at one of the most critical periods of the war. The regulars had proved themselves, and the men of the free Dominions had established their right to stand beside England's best. He spoke of the gallant work of the twenty-ninth division on Gallipoli, and his remarks were j greeted with cheers by the assembled sol- J diers. j Referring to the suggestion by Mr. Massey that in the peace terms with Turkey the acquisition by Britain of the j. spots sacred to New Zealand, where more' of our dead lav buried, should be insisted I upon, the bishop said it was only right j and fitting that the British flag should consecrate these spots. France might also increase tho entente cordialo by handing over to Britain some of the chief cemeteries where British soldiers were buried. We had conquered because we were -united, and wo would have to remain united to fight against the same enemies in a different guise. Wo must see that the soldiers had not died in vain, and not only cherish their memories but live for the Ideals for which they died. , Tho Rev. J. W. Shaw said it had been stated years ago that happy was tho nation that had no history, but to his < mind that was all nonsense. Four years i ago New Z«alard had practically no his- i tory and while visitors were able to admire our scenery and take an interest in our natural resources or our social and political experiments, we had no groat ] event by which we could be judged, or in (

which the highest elements of our national character had been fused into one flamethere had been no focussing of tho broken lights into, one inlenso radia.ice. Every groat nation had its historic symbol—its great event embodying.the national character in tho light of which the nation would choose to bo judged. Greeco had its Thermopylae, Scotland . its < Bannockburn, and England could point to the days of the Great' Armada or the period when Napcleon sought to dominate the world,, while France had her Joan of Arc, the embodiment of her gallant and chivalrous spirit. Gallipoli had given us our beacon light by which our national character'stood revealed in the white light of a noble purpose, nobly pursued against incredible odds. Wo were no longer a 1 remote dependency of tlio Empire, for wo i ,had revealed to the world that we could , do something more than turn out good , ' footballers. It might bo that Gallipoli I ended in disaster and failure, but what 1 New Zealand did would stand out for all > time as a symbol by which jshe could be , judged. After dealing with tho part played by 1 the soldier in living up to tho best ' traditions of the British race, Mr. Shaw i said the women had also proved themi selves worthy of those traditions by their dovotion during the recent epidemic, and had shown they were worthy sisters of ' worthy warriors. Anzac Day had a ; , glory all its own, and marked our inI ttuguratioftUnto the company of the elect • (among the nations, a place he trusted ■: wo should always keep. Gallipoli was the greatest event -in colonial history. 1 "We greet those who have survived and lay our wreath on the lonely graves of those still there," he said in conclusion. "A Man Through and Through." i Chaplain Garner said that the men of Gallipoli set the standard which, Ihe was glad to remember, succeeding reinforcements maintained. Ho beI I lieved that the graves on Gallipoli would , L in years to como be a Mecca to which hun- ' dreds of loving souls would go to do ; homage. Some people failed to understand 1 tho returned soldier, who was often very 1 unstrung and unsteady, but they shduld see that with the influence of a good woman and proper home surroundings ho ' would again becomo a useful citizen in tho . best sensoA The people who failed to understand the soldier should remember that he was a white man through and through 1 and had played his part. ' ' Addressing the men, the speaker said 1 • they must not think their life at the front .completed their duty to mankind. This I wo? 'only a chapter in their life's book and ' thuir country, their people, and God, still ' had claims on them. They had come back 'with a broader vision and a mere charit--1 able outlook and could bo a power for good. , ... Tho service concluded with the singing of the National Anthem. ' PARADE OP BETURNEft MEN. FIVE HUNDRED PARTICIPATE. Nearly 600 returned eoldiors took part in the procession from the Queen's Wharf to the Domain. The men wore grouped, as nearly as possible, in liheir old units. Some who were unable to walk were accommodated in motor-cars. Major F. A. Wood, M.C., was in command, and the procession was headed by the combined bands of the Garrison Artillery and Third, Auckland, Mounted Rifles. The route followed was along Queen Street, .Welleslsv Street Esit, Symonds Street, ! and the'Grafton Bridge. Largo crowds of .'people had assembled, th« largest number being at the starting point of the procession. The spectacle of tin marching men, soldiers whose purpose was to honour the : memory of their comrades who fell, was one of appeal and inspiration. The onlookers, however, showed little enthusiasm. , There was a cheer here, some hand clapping there, but for the rest silence. BO?' SCOUTS' OEUROH PARADE. REVIEW BY GOVERNOR-GENERAL. ! The Boy Scouts attended a service held In 'the Church of the Holy i Sepulchre, Khyber Pass, in the afternoon. The scoots, about 350 in number, were drawn from the following troops:—No. 1 .Area, Jervois, Cromwell, Ponsonby, I Dartmouth, and Eden; No. 2 Area, St. Mary's, St. Aidan's, St. Andrew's, St. Matthew's, St. Sarnabas's, St. Albans, and Devonport. The district commissioner, Mr. R. S. Abel, was present, and Mr. R. C. Grigsby was in charge of the parade. The boys assembled at Grafton Bridge and marched via Grafton Road 'to the church. The Revs. W. A. Keay and H. B. Wingfiold conducted the service, and Mr. N. Gibson, of the Dtlworth Ulster Institute, gave the address. Mr. Gibson said that where there was no preconceived picture of the notion's ultimate fate that nation would perish. Anzac Day should mean more than the recollection of the exploits of our soldiers. It should be the pivot round which New Zealand's history turned. The Dominion already had good traditions. The South African war brought New Zealand from childhood to youth ; J the deeds of our soldiers in the past I war advanced it to manhood. The boys of the nation, he, said, should grow up ' with _ tho determination to work con- 1 scientiously for the honour of those who • had given their lives for the safoty of ! their country. That, in his opinion, was tho significant vision of Anzac Day. j The service, which included (special prayers and the hymns, " 0 God, Our Help," and " For Our Fallen Heroes," i was concluded by the sounding of i " The East Post." ' . After the service tho scouts, drawn up ; in their respective units in tho church . ground, were inspected by the Governor- 1 ; General, the Earl of Liverpool. In a short address His Excellency said ho had always noticed that the scouts turned out neatly on parade. Ho was Very pleased to review them, and he urged the boys to live up to tho scout teaching— to $rk hard and to play hard. CELEBRATIONS ELSEWHEEE. * PARADES AND CHURCH SERVICES. Press Association , telegrams state that : fine weather prevailed for the Anzac Dav celebrations in Southern contres. Speoial | services were held in tho churches, and in most towns there wore parades "of returned soioiers. Wreaths were placed on the graves of soldiers in Dunedin by the Patriotic Association. In Cbristehurch a wreath was placedsin the Cathedral by the Returned Soldiers' Association, HAMILTON CELEB UTIONS. FULL HOLIDAY OBSERVED. [BY TfLEGUAPH.— OWN COBBESPONDENT.] HAMILTON. Friday. Anzac Day was observed as a full holiday in Hamilton. A largo number of .returned men. territorials, and cadets j paraded at tho Horse Bazaar, and headed Jby tho Sixteenth Waiknto Regimental Band, marched to the Theatre Royal, where a memorial service was held. The I weather was fine and crowds lined the 'streets during the parade. Soldiers from ' the hospital were taken for a motor drive I into the country. In the evening the j annual meeting of the Waikato Returned Soldiers' Association was held, and was followed by a most enjoyable smoke concert. CELEBRATIONS IN SYDNEY. PUBLIC FUNCTIONS FORBIDDEN. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 10 20 p.m.) SYDNEY, April 25. Owing to the influenza restrictions no demonstrations were permitted to celebrate Anzac Day, except special church services, and a display of bunting.