WREATH AT CENOTAPH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21990, 22 December 1934, Page 14

WREATH AT CENOTAPH

TRIBUTE TO FALLEN PARADE OF RETURNED MEN SIMPLE CEREMONY ARRANGED A tribute to those who foil in the Great War will be paid by the Duke who, at noon on Monday, the day of his arrival in Auckland, will deposit a wreath at the Cenotaph. A parade of ex-servicemen and ex-servicewomen, wearing medals and decorations, will be held at the Cenotaph in conjunction with the ceremony, in order to give His Royal Highness"* the opportunity to meet as many as possible of the returned soldiers of Auckland. Arrangements for the parade have heen made by the Auckland Returned Soldiers' Association and have the approval of the Department of Internal Affairs. As Christmas Eve is not a general holiday there will not be a march of returned men to the Cenotaph. Instead, those who wish to take part in the parade are asked to assemble on the Court of Honour, fronting the War Memorial Museum, not later than 11.45 a.m. There they will fall in behind the standards of the respective units. Representatives of the following organisations will be among those present: —Auckland Returned Soldiers' Association, suburban returned soldiers' organisations, the Old Contemptibles, Australian and Canadian Forces, ex-Imperial soldiers, Air Force, Naval and Merchant Services, 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 War Veterans. A Stirring Reminder His Royal Highness will be received by Sir Cecil Leys, chairman of the Museum Council, and Major-General Sir George Richardson, and the New Zealand Expeditionary Force Guard wiO be drawn up as ho arrives at the back of the museum, which will be closed to the public during the Cenotaph ceremony. This guard, equipped with steel helmets, provides a stirring reminder of the war days and always attracts much attention at military functions After .'receiving the Duke the guard will proceed io the front of the building and take up a position on the north side of the Cenotaph. When the Prince 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. | . . Meeting Returned Men After placing a wreath at the base of the Cenotaph the Prince will inspect the units on parade. Later, ho will enter the museum, whereupon the parade will march from the Court of Honour and take up positions flanking the roadway between the Burns statue and the environs of the public hospital. As she Prince passes in his motorcar on hiß return to Government House the men will give him three cheers. The parade 6f ex-servicemen is being held in conjunction with the Cenotaph ceremony as the visit of His Rojal Highness to Auckland will not be long enough to permit his attendance at a separate function. The Prince has expressed a wish to meet returned men, and it is therefore hoped that a large number of men, representing as manj branches of the services as possible, will be present. i PERIOD IN AUCKLAND NEARLY FIVE DAYS | DEPARTURE ON FRIDAY After almost five days in. Auckland Prince Henry will leave on Friday afternoon, December 28. He will have the morning free of engagements, and at 2 p.m. will leave the station in the Royal train for Hamilton, in continuation of his tour of New Zealand. SOCIAL FUNCTIONS GOVERNMENT HOUSE BALL AND GARDEN PARTY A number of functions will be held at Government House in honour of the Prince. On Monday evening there will be a Government House dinner, while on Wednesday night a ball will be held from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. A garden party will be hold at Government House from 3.45 to 5.15 on Thursday afternoon. On Thursday evening, which will be the eve of the Prince's departure for Hamilton, His Royal Highness will be the guest of honour at a dinner at the Northern Club. LIMITED EXPRESS LATE ARRIVAL ON MONDAY CLEAR LINE FOR ROYAL TRAIN The limited express, which reaches Auckland from Wellington at 9.40 a.m. each day, will be late in arriving on Monday morning owing to the arrangements for the running of the Royal train, which will arrive at 9.55 a.m. Were the limited to follow its normal schedule, there would not be time to get the line cleared for the Royal train, which will pull up at the liinited's arrival plattorm. It has been decided, therefore, to delay the limited at Frankton for about half an hour, and to bring it in after the Royal train. Sufficient time only \till be needed to get the Royal train clear of the platform after the Prince and his party have disembarked, and the extra time spent by the limited at Frankton will enable it to have a clear run iuto the Auckland station. CLOSING OF SHOPS DOMAIN CHILDREN'S RALLY "From information which I have received it would appear that there will he a large response to my invitation to retailors'-to close their > promises ...on Thursday morning," said the Mayor, Mr. G. W. Hutchison, yesterday, when referring to his request concerning the children's rally in the Domain to welcome the Royal visitor. Mr.' Hutchison said lie was particularly pleased, because employees would now be afforded an opportunity of seeing the Prince and joining in the patriotic demonstration.