“ANZAC SPIRIT” REVIVED

Southland Times, Issue 23498, 3 May 1938, Page 7

“ANZAC SPIRIT” REVIVED

MEMORABLE SCENES IN SYDNEY DOMINION CONTINGENT RETURNS (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 2. With flags flyin'g, the Maunganuiand Monowai returned today with 1400 exservicemen who had participated in the Anzac Day celebrations in Sydney. The trip was uneventful, with goodweather all the way. “The men were a very fine lot, every one a thorough gentleman,” said an officer on the Monowai. The two ships crossed the Tasman in company, the Maunganui slightly astern of the Monowai, and were in sight of each other most of the way. A slight haze on the last two days obscured them at times.

Between 30 and 40 men returned by the Awatea which also arrived from Sydney today. Only one man missed the troop ships at Sydney, but he was not much later than his comrades in arriving here, for he returned by the Awatea. The Hon. Vincent Ward, a member of the contingent who returned by the Monowai, said that the trip was memorable and historic, being marked by some indefinable spirit which was

in everybody’s heart. Never once did he hear a growl or complaint ora bad word spoken. One digger lost his wallet in the crowd at Wellington, and when this was known everyone on board subscribed to refill it.

Describing the march to the Cenotaph in Martin’s Place after the arrival in Sydney, Mr Ward said: “We were all proud of one another ,and of New Zealand. We marched well and we looked well in dark suits and grey hats and all wearing the same tie of silver and black. Thousands of Australians intermingled with the New Zealanders and seemed to take us to their hearts and cheered and clapped us as we marched along.” Mr Ward also said that as hosts the Australians were truly magnificent. They showed their national characteristics and every New Zealander received hospitality and goodfellowship far beyond all expectations. Mr Ward described the scenes on Anzac Day as wonderful and said that the days that followed Anzac Day were days they would always > carry with them as a pleasant dream.

The send-off at Sydney was on a par with everything else that was crowded into the five wonderful days. He was satisfied that no previous event in our history had done more to bring about an understanding between Australia and New Zealand. Mr Ward said that the Australian police were comrades all, not only for the New Zealand men but also for the Australians. “On Anzac afternoon they could be seen playing two-up with the boys, he said. “I saw one wheeling a digger in a wheelbarrow to his ship. Only once did I see a fight and an Australian lady said: ‘Boys you should not fight but kiss and be friends and they did’.” This morning the Dominion president of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association (the Hon. W. Perry) laid a wreath on the war memorial on behalf of Australian exservicemen. GREAT RECEPTION IN SYDNEY IMPRESSIONS FORMED BY THE HON. W. PERRY (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 2. There were three great impressions members of the New Zealand Anzac contingent will all dwell upon, said the Hon. William Perry, president of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association on his arrival from Sydney by the Awatea. The first was the wonderful reception given the contingent by the people of Sydney when they marched through the streets on the morning of their arrival and laid a wreath on the Cenotaph; the second impression was the dawn service at the Cenotaph on Anzac morning; and the third was the reception by the public of Sydney when the New Zealanders marched through the streets on Anzac Day for a mass service in the domain. “There is no question that the occasion formed another link in the chain of mutual affection which binds the two people,” said Mr Perry.