ANZAC DAY

Southland Times, Issue 20661, 17 April 1929, Page 9

ANZAC DAY

THE PROGRAMME

PLANS FOR .CHILDREN'S SERVICE DETAILS ANNOUNCED The programme for the Anzac Day services has now been announced by the secretary of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, Mr M. Stanton. This year, particular care has been given to the arranging of the children’s service and it is hoped that an impressive function will result. Children will take part in as much of the service as possible. The service in the Municipal Theatre will follow to a large extent the lines of previous years. Returned soldiers will parade at the western end of the Drill Hall at 1.40 p.m. in time to take part in the children’s service. The firing party, which will consist of 12 men under Lt. D. G. Leckie, will parade at such, time as is necessary to allow an inspection to be made. The firing party should also parade at the theatre in the morning so they can have a rehearsal of the full part in the theatre service. As the Third Battalion colours will be on parade the firing party will act as escort to the colours on the line of march, and will report to Major H. D. McHugh at the Drill Hall.

The children’s service will be held in the Showgrounds and when the children and territorials are in the correct positions on the grounds, the parade will leave the Drill Hall by the doors on the north side and will proceed to the oval at the Showgrounds entering the oval through the gates on the south end, march in line with the fence running west and north. On reaching the inner line of the south flank of the hollow square formed by the children the parade Will right wheel and follow round the inside of the square to the west end of the north flank of the square—right wheel and continue on until reaching the gates on the north of the children—which leads into the enclosure in front of the grand stand, left wheel and enter the enclosure and finally halt opposite the south flank of the hollow square of children and “Left turn in fours. ’ When the children's service concludes, the parade will immediately re-enter the oval and march due east past the north flank of children and take up position in readiness to march to the theatre. The order of march will be:—Firing party, band, gun carriage, returned soldiers, territorials and cadets.

The parade on leaving the showgrounds will proceed up Victoria Avenue to Dee street, to Tay street, to the Municipal Theatre. When the head of the parade reaches Kelvin street corner (east side) slow march will be taken up and the band will play the "Dead March” until the theatre is reached.

Seats will be reserved in the stalls for the returned soldiers’ parade and Pipe Bands, and the territorials and cadets will attend a service to be held in the Victoria Hall.

The Civic Band will play in the theatre and the Battalion Band will play in the Victoria Hall. The Civic Band will enter the theatre by the stage door and take up its position on the stage which will be fully arranged for the service and on which will also be the Male Choir, speakers and firing party. The general public must be excluded from the stage under all circumstances and no children will be allowed in the theatre. On reaching the theatre the firing party will take up a position in the vestibule in readiness to take part in the service immediately on the commencement of the “Funeral March.” Theatre Service. When the chairman is assured that the audience is in its place he will indicate to the bandmaster to commence Chopin’s "Funeral March.” Simultaneously with the strains of the “Funeral March” the curtain

will be raised slowly, the platform party and audience standing. The firing party will enter the theatre along the aisles at a slow march "arms reversed” and will take up a position in front of the orchestral well, right files turning to the right, left files to the left. The order "Rest on Your Arms Reversed” is then quietly given by the firing party. The "Funeral March” ends, and all take their seats, the firing party having seats specially reserved for them in such a position as to allow them to move to the wings of the stage a little later on without causing confusion or attracting attention. The programme will be:—Chairman’s remarks (10 minutes), Dr. A. T. McCaw; at the conclusion of the chairman’s remarks the choirmaster will take charge and the hymn, “God of Our Fathers,” will be sung. There will follow Scripture reading and prayer, Rev. J. Chisholm; sacred solo, Mr R. Kingsland; address, Mr John Tait (15 minutes); Flander’s Fields, Mr W. Buchan; hymn, “For all the Saints.” While this hymn is being sung the firing party will quietly leave their seats and take up a position in the wings of the stage. At the conclusion of the hymn the platform party and audience will stand and the chairman, taking up his position at the reading desk, will say:-—"We stand in silence with bowed heads in memory of all those who made the supreme sacrifice in the Great War—our comrades whose glorious passing may we never forget.” The audience will stand in silence for 30 seconds, after which the band will play the “Dead March” in Saul. On the first strains of the “Dead March” the firing party, in two squads, right and left, will enter the stage from the wings at slow march “arms reversed” and will meet at the apex of an inverted V behind the chairman, turn towards the stand “Resting on the Arms Reversed” until the conclusion of the “Dead March.” The officer commanding will then bring his party to the firing position and fire three volleys—drums roll after each volley—come to the "present” and the bugler will sound the "Last Post.” The bugler will enter the stage from the rear, pass through the apex of the V and take up his position in the centre of and at the front of the stage while sounding the Last Post. The firing party will then come to attention and remain on the stage during the remainder of the service. Bugler moves to side of stage to right file of firing party. The choirmaster will then take charge and the choir will sing the Te Deum. The response to In Flander’s Field will be in the hands of Master E. Hobson and a solo, Land of ITope and Glory, will be sung by Miss G. Williams. Reveille is then sounded

by the bugler. While the National Anthem is being played the officer in charge of the firing party will salute. The funeral march and Dead March will be played through once only. After the conclusion of the theatre service the parade will "fall in” and march to Victoria Avenue where it will, be dismissed. Dr. R. H. Hogg and Dr. Owen-Johnston will take the “salute” at the South African memorial and the soldiers’ memorial. Victoria Hall Service. The territorials and cadets will attend a service to be held in -the Victoria Hall. The Battalion Band will be in attendance and will play at this service. When the audience is seated the band will, play and the assembly will sing the hymn, "God of Our Fathers.” The programme thereafter will be: Chairman’s remarks (10 minutes) Dr. Owen-Johnston; Scripture reading and prayer (10 minutes) Rev. S. Bailey; address, Lieutenant-Colonel J. Hargest D. 5.0., M.C. (30 minutes) ; hymn, “For all the Saints.” After this hymn is sung the band will play the “Dead March in Saul” to be followed by the “Last Post,” ‘Reveille” and the National Anthem. Children’s Service. The children’s service will be under the control of Lieut. L. D. MacVicker, who will be responsible for all matters relating to this service, and whose instructions will be followed out in so far aj they relate to this

service. All schools will assemble prior to 1.25 p.m. on the assembling area under their respective teachers, and will be under the control of Lieut. R. P. Kania as Adjutant and the staff. The buglers of the Southland Technical College cadets will, at T. 30 p.m. prompt, sound the fall in. Each teacher in charge will immediately proceed with the sizing, equalizing and numbering of their units as laid down for a company (sec. 151 Inf. training) with two markers and one teacher with each company of boys called A company, or girls called B company, and with the colour and wreath party, a junior officer or teacher in charge (if necessary). After assembly each unit commander will count the number of children on parade and same to be given to staff sergeant-major of parade on request. At 1.55 p.m. prompt the bugle band will move off followed by each unit in the following order, in column of fours North, South, Waihopai, Girls’ High School, Technical College girls, Middle, St. George, Waikiwi. The pace will be taken from the band; teachers are requested to keep an eye on the marching order of their unite in order that the “march in” may be performed creditably. A directing cadet will march on the left flank at the front of each unit and will generally assist the teachers. Each unit on arrival there will be ordered to stand at ease, not easy, by unit commander. The troops will then march into position followed by the returned soldiers. When the escorts with the King’s and Regimental colours of the Ist Battalion Southland Regiment and the Old 3rd Battalion Otago Regimental colours are about to enter the hollow square the bugles sound “attention” and all units will spring to attention, so that the colours will be duly honoured—the colours will be trooped and a general salute given. The opening hymn will then be announced and when singing the time will be taken from Bandmaster Wills (at the dais) children are to be encouraged to sing heartily. This will be followed by a reading from the 72hd Psalm by Cadet 11. Hobson, 5.8.H.5.C., who will also lead the children in repeating the Lord’s Prayer. The address will be delivered by Mr Sefton Hunter, 5.T.C.0.5.A., the subject being “His name shall endure for ever.” A prayer will follow, “ a prayer for peace,” and “for thanks for the recovery of his Gracious Majesty King George V.” The bugles will sound, followed by a diminishing roll by the drums, and an interval of one minute silence when all heads should be bowed in memory of the Glorious Dead of the. Great War, the drums will again play a crescendo roll with a sharp tap at finish for attention. The ceremony of presentation of wreaths will be taken in the following order:—North, Waikiwi, South, St. George, W aihopai, Middle, Girls’ High School, Technical Girls, Boys’ High cadets, Technical College cadets. In marching forward to present wreaths, each school will move forward in column of fours in rotation under the command of their own teachers, boys will lead in each case —taking a right wheel and almost immediately a left wheel in order to move forward right in front of the girls—when the colour party are exactly in fine with the drums on one side and the dais on the other A and B Companies will halt and turn facing the dais—the colour party will then advance (see instructions for colour party). On retiring the command to right or left turn will be given and quick march and when the girls (B Coy.) reach their original formation they will halt. Boys (A Coy.) will right wheel and almost immediately left wheel and on reaching their position alongside B Coy. will halt. Both companies will be ordered to about turn and stand at ease. Girls of Technical College A Company will move forward six paces in line, in fours (counting as follows —one, two, three, four, five, right turn) and march forward, without delay, a sufficient distance for the,colour party to move into position. (The colour party should be right opposite the dais with the drums directly in their rear) then give the command—“A Coy., left turn in fours.” B Coy. will move forward 10 paces halt —taking up their dressing with A Coy. Both companies will then be facing the dais with their colour parties on the flanks in the centre. Girls’ High School. A Company will move forward six paces in line, in fours (counting as follows —“one, two, three, four, five, left turn) and march forward without delay a sufficient distance for the colour party to move into position, (the colour party should be right opposite the dais with the drums directly in their rear) then give the command—A Company, right turn in fours. B Company will move forward 10 paces, halt—taking up their dressing with A Company—both companies will then be facing the dais with their colour parties on the flanks in the centre.

The wreaths will be received by an ex-ser. vice nursing sister. The “Last Post” will be sounded and a recitative “In Flanders Fields the Poppies Blow” will be given by Mr W. Buchan and the reply by Cadet Hector Hobson thereupon “Reveille” will be sounded. On the opening notes from the bugle, the flag, which has been at half mast, will be raised and the National Anthem sung. On conclusion the children will form a column of route with Civic Band in front, North, South, Waihopai, Girls’ High, Scottish Pipe Band, Technical Girls, Middle, St. George, Waikiwi, proceed by way of Victoria Avenue and Dee street to the intersection of Gala street, when ranks will open out and the Anzac Day parade of Returned Soldiers, Territorials and Cadets will march between the opened out ranks of the children. When the last unit has marched past, the ranks will be closed and all the schools will march past and around three aides of the war memorial, the Pipe Band playing, all heads should be turned on passing the memorial, the salute will be taken by a returned officer, when each banner should be dipped in passing, teachers will march at the head of their units and give ■the command in a clear voice, “Eyes right’ and not until each school has passed the third side of the monument will “Eyes front” be given. On reaching the southeast exit to Gala street, each school will go around to the area at the rear of memorial and form up in original order of assembly. The Scottish Pipe Band will have taken up a position at rear of war memorial on the green, after playing the children past, will, when children are massed in rear of memorial, commence playing the lament, ‘Flowers of . the Forest.” On conclusion the parade will be dismissed by the O.C. and afterwards each teacher will dismiss or otherwise direct his unit. No children can be admitted to the Municipal Theatre services. The Showgrounds service is for children, the grandstand is for parents and children not taking part and the general public. In the event of wet weather the children will be seated on the grandstand, schools being accommodated first and any space left may be used by the public.