CEREMONY AT CENOTAPH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21983, 14 December 1934, Page 15

CEREMONY AT CENOTAPH

WREATH TO BE DEPOSITED

PARADE OF RETURNED MEN TENTATIVE ARRANGEMENTS Tentative plans for a parade of exservicemen and ex-servicewomen at the Cenotaph at noon on December 24, when Prince Henn . Duke of Gloucester, will lay a wreath there, have been completed by the Auckland Returned Soldiers' Association. The programme has been approved by the Department of Internal Affairs, and final details will be decided at a meeting of the executive of the association next week. The assembly has been arranged to give the Prince the opportunity to meet as many as possible of the returned soldiers of Auckland, following the tribute he will pay at the Cenotaph to the men who fell. As December 24 is not a general holiday there will be no special parade and march to the Cenotaph, but exsoldiers taking part in tlie ceremony are asked to proceed direct to the Court of Honour, fronting the War Memorial Museum, and there fall in alongside their respective regimental standards. As the Prince will arrive at noon, the returned men will assemble by 11.45 a.m.

Organisations Invited Representatives of the following organisations have been invited to attend: —Auckland Returned Soldiers' Association, suburban returned soldiers' organisations, the Old Contemptibles, ex-Imperial the British Legion, ex-servicewomen, men from the Veterans' Home, men from the Evelyn Firth Home, ex-soldiers from the Blind Institute, and South African veterans. A guard of honour will receive the Prince as he arrives at the rear of the museum. An invitation has been extended to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force guard to receive His Royal Highness. This guard, equipped with steel helmets, has attracted special attention at recent military functions because of its efficient showing. The guard will proceed to the front of the building, and take up a position on the north side of the Cenotaph. When the Prince later arrives at the top of the front steps, leading down to the Court of Honour, the guard will salute and the National Anthem will be played. Inspection of Uniis

The Prince will then place a wreath at t lie base of the Cenotaph, after which he will walk round the ranks of the various units on parade. The Prince will later enter the museum, whereupon those on parade Will march from the Court of Honour and take up positions flanking the roadway between the Robert Burns statue and the environs of the puhlic hospital. As the Prince passes in his motor-car on his return to Government House the men will give him three cheers. Arrangements are being made to ensure that the Court of Honour and the steps of the museum are kept clear during the ceremony. Returned soldiers are asked to wear medals and decorations.

SERVICE IN CATHEDRAL PRINCE HENRY TO ATTEND Prince Henry and the GovernorGeneral, Lord Bledisloe, are to attend divine service at St. Mary's Cathedral at 11 a.m. on Christmas Day. Advice to this effect was received by the City Council last night from Canon F. Fancourt, who extended to the Mayor, members of the council, the town clerk, and their wives an invitation to be present. MOTOR-CAR DECORATIONS USE OF FLAGS AND RIBBONS "It is desired that all cars in the city during the visit of Prince Henry should carry flags or red, white and blue ribbons," said the Mayor of Auckland, Mr. G. W. Hutchison, at last night's meeting of the council of the Automobile Association (Auckland), of which he is secretary. In Australia a large number of cars carried flags or ribbons. Members agreed that it would be a suitable wav for people to show their