DAWN PARADE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23060, 10 June 1938, Page 12

DAWN PARADE

ANZAC DAY SERVICE SUPPORT IN AUCKLAND GALLIPOLI ASSOCIATION THE AUSTRALIAN« CEREMONY A decision to endorse the proposal of the Auckland branch of the Australian Imperial Forces Ex-Servicemen's Association to hold a dawn parade in the next and subsequent years on Anzao Day was made at the annual reunion of the Gallipoli Association, held last night in the Town Hall concert chamber. The association decided also to offer its full co-operation in the organisation of the parade and in making it a thorough success. The proposal was put before the meeting at the conclusion of an address by Mr. E. P. Titchener, president of the Auckland branch of the Australian Ex-Servicemen's Association, who responded to the toast ''The Aussies."

Plans lor Ceremony "In Australia tho dawn parade commemorates the first shot, fired at Gallipoli; when the Anzacs, embodying both the Commonwealth and New Zealand, first came to grips with the enemy," Mr. Titchener saifj. "Those who take part in the service stand in solemn remembrance of what that landing cost and it was in honour of the 2000 men Who did not return that the dawn parade was instituted."

Mr. Titchener said it was intended tliat the ceremony as carried out in Sydney last Anzac Day in the presence of the New Zealand contingent as well as Australians should be held in its entirety in' Auckland. Plains had already been made for the service and invitations would be sent to the GovernorGeneral, Viscount Galway, the Prime Minister, members of Parliament in the Auckland district, Mayors and councillors and to local bodies and exservicemen's associations. It was hoped that Lord Galway would pronounce the Anzac Dedication which had been recited at the last Sydney dawn service by the Governor of New South Wales, Lord Wakejiurst. Contingent from Australia

In proposing the toast to the Australians, Mr. H. M. Clark, secretary of the Gallipoli Association, said Anzac Day was looked upon in Australia as the beginning of a nation. The dawn parade which he had attended with the New Zealand contingent was a remarkable and highly impressive service. Five thousand soldiers took part in the parade and 50,000 other people attended the service.

In speaking of the invitation issued to Australian returned saiiors and soldiers to attend the Anzac celebrations in • New Zealand in 1940, Mr. Titchener said an organisation had been set up already and such large numbers of men were willing to make the journey that their transport to and acr cominodation in the Dominion would present a difficult problem. Those who came would probably have to be spread throughout the various centres.