ANZAC DAY CELEBRATIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20705, 1 May 1929, Page 6

ANZAC DAY CELEBRATIONS

TO EBB GDIIOB. Sib, —Referring to the incident reported in your issue of the 29th inst. of a returned so.dier in Wellington expressing his dissatisfaction at the emphasis placed on the Gallipoli campaign whilst little or no mention is made of France, 1 would like also to reeprd my disappointment. I was alwaj's under the impression that Alizac Day was set aside as a holiday by special legislation, not only to commemorate the landing on Gallipoli and the first active participation of New Zealanders in the war, but also, and more particularly, as a day of remembrance and tribute to all those who fell in the Great War of 1914-18, Yet, listening to speakers cn past Anzac Days, I have always been impressed by the manner in which they extolled the deeds of heroism of those who took part in the Gallipoli campaign, whilst little or no mention was made of trance, where by far the greater number of our dead lie. This has never been made more apparent to me than when attending a memorial service in one of our leading churches in the evening of last Anzac Day. The rev. gentleman, in a very inspiring address entitled “ The Lesson of the Anzacs,” painted a picture in words of the heroism of those men who landed on Gallipoli and their charges against fearful odds, which must have stirred those present who took part in the campaign and those also who had friends there. But I waited in vain for honourable mention of the 29th Division and for some' mention of those who fell in France and Palestine. Whilst I do not wish in any way to draw comparisons, it would be worth while for these speakers to. dig into the records of the N.Z.E.F. and compare the casualties on Gallipoli with those of such battles as those of the Somme, Messines. and Passchendaele. I am sure that many relatives like myself left'that church a little disappointed. I only hope that the representatives of the R.S.A. who speak to the children on Anzac Day point out the significance of Anzac Day as a day of remembrance of those who fell during 1914-18 to save our Empire.—l am, etc., Disappointed,