NATIONAL GESTURE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22403, 27 April 1936, Page 14

NATIONAL GESTURE

CENOTAPH CEREMONY THOUSANDS DO HOMAGE MANY YOUNG PEOPLE PRESENT All New Zealand joined in homage to the war dead and their surviving comrades on Saturday, the 21st anniversary of the landing at Anzac. As the years pass this national commemoration loses none of its hold upon the public. The ceremonies have no longer the attraction of military spectacles; ~ they are simply the tribute of a peaceloving people to citizens who did their duty in time of peril. Many grey heads - are to be seen among the ex-service- ~ men who muster for them, but Anzac Vi Day keeps- its place not only in tho hearts 'of the old and middle-aged. ' Among the "thousands of Aucklanders w ho gathered about tho Cenotaph on * Saturday and filled the Town Hall at the memorial service were many young people and children to whom the Great "v "War was not even a memory. While . this continues, the future of tho day is assured. T. Auckland's commemoration upon the ' Domain' Hill tcok the same form as in past years, a form that has grown natu- £ rally and sincerely from the pub'ic feel- £ ing toward the day. The whole ceremony was a gesture. Except for two "* well-loved hymns and the recital of Laurence Binyon's now familiar lines ending, "We will remember them," words counted for little. Wreaths were heaped about the foot of the Cenotaph, but they were of every gay hue, and in their riot of colour the bitterness 71 of mourning gave way to pride and *■' triumph in duty done. Little Tribute X Long before the ceremony thousands kV - of people took their places around the Court of Honour and on the slope above it, and row upon row of cars were r parked on the green space below;. The Z Municipal Band, near the portico of f* the War Memorial Museum, helped the *-■ time to pass with a series of marches. There were already many wreaths around the Cenotaph, and exclamat tions of delight came from the crowd when two little boys, aged about four and five, hurried across the court hand r in hand and added their contribution • of a bunch of flowers. Presently music was heard in the disi;' tance, anil the war nurses and exservicewomen, about 60 strong, marched £ up, headed by the Auckland Girls' r Band. The main parade, which had been formed in Park Road, arrived soon after, led by the band of the Auckland Regiment. According to a custom now well established, each unit marched behind a. standard bearing its regi- * mental or other and in the appropriate colours. *

2S . Fathers and Sons C The Navy led the way, and men £ from the Imperial, Australian, Can- - adian and South African forces foltt lowed. The Mens veterans, who mustered more than 50, carried their banner of red, white and blue, together £ with a large silk Union Jack. There was an equally good muster of South African War veterans, whose standard bore the colours of the Queen's Medal ■** for that campaign. Last came the W Various units of the New Zealand Force. All wore mufti, with medals, and many of the men j had poppies and sprigs of rosemary in their buttonholes. _ The younger generation had its place. A good sprinkling of the vet- « • erans marched with schoolboy sons *; beside them. One man carried a little I! boy whose short legs were unequal to the pace of the parade; another, well •up in years, led a grandchild by the ;; hand. Most of the units, as they passed, laid their wreaths of poppits I and laurel on the steps of the - ■ Cenotaph, and very often it was a * boy who left the ranks to perform this *; task. Flags' Lowered and Raised I' When all were in place, the wide ' • court was almost filled. The official , wreath-bearers took their stand on three sides of the monument. A verse * of the 'National Anthem was followed 4 by the "Old Hundredth." A cadet > . bugle party sounded the "Last Post." *' while.- the six flags upon the Cenotaph * were slowly lowered by representatives * of the various fighting services. During th 6 "Reveille" they were raised again, and the whole great gathering sang "Abide With Me." I i The official wreaths were then placod * in position. Mr. J.. A. Lee, Parlial • mehtary Lnder-Secretary to the Prime I Minister, represented the Government, I au d Mr. C. M. Croft, Canadian Trade Commissioner, the Government of his Dominion. The Mayor, Mr. Ernest Davis, deposited a wreath on behalf of the,citizens; Mr. W. F. Boyle and Mr. A. M. Ferguson for the Consular Corps and Mr. J. W. Kendall, president. for the Returned Soldiers' Association. . . The two Judges resident in Auckland,'' Mr. Justice Fair and Mr. Justice Callan, who are both ex-officers and wore their medals, brought forward a wreath on behalf of the Judiciary. Commander B. C. B. Brooke represented the Navy; Major D. H. Donaldson the Permanent Forces, Northern Command, and Squadron-Leader L. M. Isitt ''the Royal New Zealand Air .Force. Public bodies and the police completed the list. While school representatives nnd members of the public were depositing wreaths the Auckland Pipe Band, which' had played the ex-servicemen on to the court, struck up a Highland lament, which must have evoked iri many present a memory of the sound of the pipes in the broadcast of King George's funeral. The National Anthem brought tho simple ceremony to a close. The parade marched away, but some thousands of the spectators lingered to pass the Cenotaph in homage* and to see the wreaths. MASSED BANDS RECITAL COMMEMORATION MUSIC A musical programme presented by the massed bands of Auckland, conducted by Mr. F. H. Hildreth, as ail Anzac commemoration in tho Town Hall last evening met with a favourable reception from a largo audience. Tho> recital was part of a movement among bands to popularise band music in Auckland and the province, and it is hoped to present more programmes of a similar type. The Mavor, Mr.. Ernest Da vis, attended. Miss Doris Bransgrove, Mr. E. J. Watson and the Lyric Quartette 'assisted.

MOUNT EDEN PRISON A service v/as conducted at the Mount Eden/Prison on Anzac Day by Captain S. It. Banyard, in the prison chapel. Two wreaths were placed on the altar, one from the Victoria League by Mrs. Curry, the other from the inmates themselves. The Rev. H. Squires 'of All Saints', Ponsonby, gave the address. The Last Posst and Reveille was sounded by four trumpeters from the Auckland Boys Grammar School. The National Anthem Wan sung at the close of the - .