MEMORIAL SERVICE AT LONDON.

Otago Witness, Issue 3197, 23 June 1915, Page 25

MEMORIAL SERVICE AT LONDON.

LONDON, June 15. A memorial service for those who have lost their lives at the Dardanelles was held at St. Paul's Cathedral, and the proceedings were deeply impressive. A crowded congregation included relatives of the dead, and 400 Australian and New Zealand wounded men from Weymouth and Harefield park (some on crutches, with limb; bandaged, and many wearing hospital garments). Rows of khaki-clad soldiers filled the space under the dome. The Australian and New Zealand flags were above the choir. The Earl of Kintore represented the Kin- 1 and Colonel Steathfieid represented Queen Alexandra. Other notables present were :—Mr Bonar Law and Sir Hartmann Just (representing the Colonial Office), Sir G. and Lady Reid and the Hon. T. and Mrs Mackenzie (representing the Hi rf 'i Commissioners), the Agentsgeneral, Lord Lincolnshire (Joint Hereditary Lord Great Chamberlain of England), Sir Edmund and Lady Barton, Admiral Gaunt, Lord Denman (former Governor-general of Australia), Lady Patey, Lady Birdwood, Mr Buckley (of the High Commissioner's office) and Mrs Buckley, Captain F. F. Haworth-Booth (Naval Adviser to the High Commissioner of Australia), Lords Islington and Plunket (former Governors of New Zealand), Sir James Mills (managing director of the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand), Sir Robert Nivison, Lord Brassey (former Governor of Victoria) and Lady Brassey, Lord Tennyson (former Governor-general of Australia), Lady Darnley, Admiral King-Hall, General Sir E. Hutton (a former commandant of the Australian forces), Lord Linlithgow (whose father was the first Governor-general of Australia), Mr A. E. Collins (principal clerk in the Colonial Mr C. F. W. Palliser (of the His?h Commissioner's office), with other civil servants, Imperial administrators, army and naval officers, and business men. The Lord Mayor and Sheriffs attended in state.

The Dean and the Bishop of London assisted in the service, which began with the hymn, “ Brief Life is Here Our Portion.” After Psalms xxiii and cxxx had been read, and Spohr’s anthem, “ Blest are the Departed,” had been sung, the Rev. W. Besley (sub=dean, lately of New Zealand) read as a lesson the raising of Lazarus (St. John xi). After the hymn, “ Rock of Ages,” had been sung and a special litany recited.

The Archbishop preached the sermon, taking as his text St. John xv, 13. He said they had met for a very sacred purpose—thanking God for the splendid devotion of their brethren from Australia and New Zealand, who in the cause to which the Empire had set their hands “ loved not their lives to the death.” The feat of April 25 had never been outshone and seldom equalled. If a picture of the perils of the landing could be painted, the dauntless gallantry of the brave men would be shown storming the heights and holding on afterwards. Their deeds had become part of the Empire’s heritage for ever—deeds more splendid and inspiring when they remembered that they were not the achievements of some veteran corps, but men who a few mouths before were civilians in

the bush, on sheep runs, and in the townships of Australia and New Zealand. The Archbishop continued: “Who would have thought, when the young nations were implanted in the southern seas, that 100 years later their sons would cross the seas and share the Empire’s burden in a world wide war; be disciplined under the shadow of the Pyramids, and make their first ’ onset on the Plains of Troy? Yet these things had been done. Fearful would be the cost; but the great roll of the drums in the ‘ Dead March ’ that night would reverberate the thanks of the Motherland to the farthest limits of the Empire. God give us grace to bear ourselves as a united people, that we may build out of this welter of pain and strife- a nobler habitation to which the honour and glory of every nation may add something distinctive.” The service closed with the hymn, “ Now the Labourer’s Task is O’er,” sung kneeling. A military band played the “ Dead March” in “ Saul,” and was answered from the end of the nave by the buglers plaving the “ Last Post.” The National Anthem made a fitting termination to a historic service. The Times, referring to the memorial service, says; ‘‘We hold the Australians and New Zealanders in special pride for the proof they have given that the spirit of Greater Britain is undiminished. Every advice from the Dardanelles only adds to our admiration for the audacious, constant, and steady valour under conditions the danger and difficulties of which are only beginning to bo realised.” BRESLAU SERIOUSLY DAMAGED. ATHENS, June 16. During the recent engagement with Russian torpedo-boats in the Black Sea the Breslau was seriously damaged, and some Turkish torpedo-boats were sunk. Twelve Turkish officers and 80 sailors were drowned. [A Petrograd official message on thrf 13th inst. stated: “Two of our torpedoboats on Friday night near the Bosphorus encountered the Breslau, whose searchlight showed up a Russian turbine destroyer. The latter attacked the cruiser, and a violent exchange of shells toot place. Several struck the Breslau, and an explosion was heard and fire was seen in her bows. Darkness prevented us from seeing the extent of the damage done.”] CELEBRATIONS AT CONSTANTINOPLE. LONDON, June 15. Bucharest reports state that the celebrations in Constantinoiple commemorating the Turkish capture of the city in the fifteenth century indicate a Turkish resolution to defend Constantinople to the last drop of blood. KILLED IN ACTION. SYDNEY, June 17.

Sergeant E. R. Larkin, killed in action was member for Willoughby in the New South Wales State Parliament, also an exsecretary of the Rugby League and president of the League of Wheelmen. The Legislative Assembly adjourned today out of respect to the memory of Sergeant Larkin. ATTACKS ON BRITISH TRENCHES. TURKS SUPPER HEAVILY. LONDON, June 17. On the night of June 15 a party of thi enemy, led by a German officer, gallantly attacked the trenches held by the British Brigade at the Dardanelles. Only a few of them reached the parapet, where they were killed. The majority fell before reaching the trenches, leaving 50 dead. Including their leader. Strong bombing parties also led the attack on the trenches we had captured on the night of June 12, and forced us back 50 yards till daybreak, when’ our machine guns enfiladed them, and they evacuated the trench. The Dublin Fusiliers then attacked with the bayonet and reoccupied the trench, in which were 200 dead Turks. Our casualties were slight. AUSTRALASIANS’ INITIATIVE. SYDNEY, June 18. Captain Bean writes: One of the most remarkable qualities in the Australian and New Zealand troops was shown during the first three days, when many of the men were living in trenches a quarter of a mile away from the nearest officer. They took commands from some corporal or sergeant who rose to the occasion and took control with complete confidence. Many men in the trenches during these critical days never* saw an officer, as there were not enough to go round, but the subordinate commanders did not hesitate to take control, and they showed wonderful capacity. BRITISH SUBMARINE ACTIVE.' ATHENS, June 17. A British submarine on Wednesday tor* pedoed and sank three Turkish transports beyond Nagara. The greater part of the troops and crews were drowned. Two gunboats were escorting the troopships. ROME, June 17.

Another British submarine reached Constantinople and sank two vessels —-one a largo steamer —at the Golden Horn. All the forts and warships fired at the submarine, but did not hit it.

TURKISH CRUISER HAMIDIEH. PARIS, June 17. The Petrograd correspondent of Le Temps rays that the Russian squadron severely damaged the Turkish cruiser Hamidieh. LONDON MEMORIAL SERVICE. LONDON, June 17. At the St. Paul’s memorial service the Primate further said : We want as Christians to say together, honestly and deliberately, that we believe these fearful perils, these wounded and stricken bodies of the best and bravest, these saddened hearts and darkened homes were worth while, and, if worth while, they are right in offering them, terrible as they are, without reserve in the cause of truth and honour. There is, too, a heroism in the stricken home as real as that of the shellswept trench or the quivering deck. For these brave women of England or the Southern Seas we upon our knees are thanking God. But we want another note. We must have a triumph note for those whose self-sacrifice meant so much to the country. It has been theirs in enthusiast: a, eager self-surrender to reach what Christ marks as the highest grade of human love. When the call rang out the response was ready, and the results are before us. All those Australians and New Zealanders are enrolled among the champions whom the Empire for generations to come will delight to honour. A WOUNDED LIEUTENANT. SYDNEY, June 18. Sub-lieutenant F. S. Kelly,, wounded at tho Dardanelles, is an Oxford graduate, and a prominent oarsman. Thrice he won the Diamond Sculls at Henlev, and once the Wingfield Sculls on the Thames. He was also a member of the Leander eight which thrice wen the Henley Grand Challenge Cup.