ARMISTICE DAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23191, 10 November 1938, Page 14

ARMISTICE DAY

20TH ANNIVERSARY AUCKLAND OBSERVANCES CEREMONY AT CENOTAPH SCHOOL CHILDREN'S PART

The 20th anniversary of the armistice which ended hostilities in the Great War will be observed in Auckland to-morrow after the manner that has been customary for many years. New Zealand's principal war commemoration is made yearly on Anzac Day, but throughout the Dominion it has always been felt that there is a definite obligation to join with the rest of the Empire in the two minutes' silence on November 11.

Since Armistice Day is not a general holiday, Auckland's ceremony at the Cenotaph is carried out by representatives of local government, the fighting services and Great War and other organisations as a gesture on behalf of the community as a whole. The Two Minutes' Silence

It is predominantly a children's observance, giving an opportunity for boys and girls delegated by the city and suburban schools to lay wreaths and pay their tribute to the fallen. Tho yearly changing of the flags on tho Cenotaph and the distribution of tho old flags to selected schools has been proved by experience to bo a simple but effective aid in impressing the lessons of history upon young minds.

By contrast, the two minutes' silence just before 11 o'clock is something in which everyone can take part. The beginning and end of the silence will bo marked as usual to-morrow by the firing of a gun, all street traffic will stop and remain stationary until a second gun announces the hour. It is customary for all activity in Courts of justice, offices, shops and factories to be suspended for the two minutes' period.

Changing the Flags At the Cenotaph the ceremony will begin at 10.30 with band music, and a guard will be mounted by the King's College cadet battalion. Children representing schools will form up on the Court of Honour to the east and west of the Cenotaph, and later the official wreath-bearers will take their places on the northern side of the court. They will include the Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis, members of the City Council and representatives of the Navy, Army, Air Force, Consular Corps, ex-service organisations, Navy League and Victoria League. The National Anthem will be played at 10.54. followed bv the hymn, "Abide With Me," and the "Last Post." sounded by buglers of the King's College battalion. Meanwhile the six flags on the Cenotaph will bo lowered by representatives of the fighting services and the Merchant Nav ; y. During the silence the new flags will be attached to the halyards and at its close they will be hoistjed, to remain in place through the coming year. Toe H Service at Night

The "Reveille" will be followed by "Nearer, My God, to Thee," the old flags will be handed to the representatives of the chosen schools, and tho ceremony will end with the National Anthem. Captain R. S. Judson, V.C.. has again been appointed to take charge of the arrangements, and tho flags will be distributed by the president of tho Auckland Returned Soldiers' Association. Mr. J. W. Kendall.

Soldiers' graves in the Waikumete, O'Neill's Point and other cemeteries will be visited by representatives of various organisations in the course of the day. An Armistice Day service organised by the Auckland region of Toe H is to be held in St. Mary's Cathedral at 8 p.m. The first part of the service will be conducted by the Rev. J. L.v. Litt, padre of the Toe H League of Women Helpers, assisted by an ex-service member and a junior .member. After the lesson, read by Dean W. Fancourt, the service will be continued bv the Rev. E. S. Emmitt, regional padre. An address will be given by Archbishop Averill, and the observance will closo with the "ceremony of light."