SERVICES ON ANZAC DAY

Southland Times, Issue 24420, 28 April 1941, Page 10

SERVICES ON ANZAC DAY

Granity.—A well-attended service was held at Granity on Anzac Day. The address was given by the Rev. J. N. Goodman.

Thornbury.— There was a good attendance at the Anzac Day services. After wreaths had been laid at the memorial, a service was held in the hall, where Mr A. A. Fisher addressed a large attendance.

Colac Bay.— A large number of, returned soldiers and Home Guards’men attended the Anzac service at Colac Bay. The service was conducted by Mr Martin, of Orepuki. The speaker was Mr H. R. Wright.

Bluff.— One of the largest parades ever associated with Anzac Day was seen at Bluff when the Town Hall was filled to overflowing for the service. The address was given by the Rev. A. M. Ferguson, the prayer was taken by the Rev. C. N. Luker and the lesson was read by the Rev. N. Challenger. The Mayor, Mi- J. Cameron, presided. After the service the parade moved to the memorial where Lieutenant H. W. Newman read the names. The “Last Post” was sounded by Mr R. Hawke. A fine showing was made by the Woodend and Tisbury Home Guard.

Riverton.— There was an impressive parade at Riverton led by the Waimatuku Pipe band. Wreaths were placed on the war memorials in memory of fallen comrades and Nurse Marion Brown. The service was held in the Empire Theatre where Mr G. Cloughley presided. In his address Mr A. A. Fisher, of Otautau, spoke of the inspiration of Anzac and the courage and comradeship it fostered and the confidence that it inspired. “Last Post” and “Reveille” were sounded by Mr R. Walker.

Mataura. — At Mataura a large parade was held. The procession marched to the Horticultural Hall where the service was held. Captain F. J. Medley was in command of the parade, which was headed by the Mataura Kilties’ Band. The order of the parade was: Mataura Kilties’ Band, Boy Scouts and Cubs, Girl Guides, Home Guard and returned soldiers. The president of the Returned Soldiers’ Association (Mr J. Williams) was chairman at the service, and associated with him was the Rev. J. Badcock (Waikaka), who gave the main address. A solo was sung by Mrs J. Watson. After the service wreaths and poppies were placed on the memorial. The Kilties’ Band played a lament and Bugler G. Duncan sounded the “Last Post.”

Winton.—There was a big attendance at the Anzac Day service at Winton. The parade, consisting of members of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, Home Guard and Boys’ Brigade, formed up at the Drill Hall and, led by the Browns Pipe Band, marched to the Theatre Royal, where the memorial service was held. The service was conducted by the Rev. John Newlands and associated with him on the stage were the Rev. W. L. S. Harbour and Captain Coster, of the Salvation Army. The principal speaker was Mr John Tait, of Invercargill. Music for the service was played by the Winton Silver Band. After the service the parade re-formed and marched to the memorial gates, where wreaths were hung by representatives of the following bodies: Citizens of Winton, Returned Soldiers’ Association, Winton Borough Council, Central Bowling Club, Croquet Club, Winton District High School, Presbyterian Sunday School, Trinity Sunday School, Salvation Army, Women’s Institute, Women's Division of the Farmers’ Union, Boys’ Brigade, Girls’ Brigade, Busy Bees and the Browns Pipe Band. The “Last Post” was sounded by Mr J. McMaster.

Otautau.—Mr W. J. Wesney, chairman of the Town Board, presided over a large gathering in the Otautau Town Hall. Before the service the returned soldiers, Home Guard, Boy Scouts, Girl Guides and school pupils, headed by the Pipe Band, marched to the hall. In the course of his remarks, the chairman said it was a day of remembrance, not one of sorrow, but a day of pride and glory, set apart to grasp once again the finest conception of the ideal which made our men give their lives for the Empire. On the local memorial appeared the names of 53 who paid the supreme sacrifice. They thanked God for the knowledge that the torch of freedom was still carried on and that the spirit which created the immortal name of Anzac still lived in the hearts of the young men of today. The Rev. J. N. Goodman (Riverton) stressed the significance of the occasion. After the National Anthem had been sung an adjournment was made to the Soldiers’ Memorial, where wreaths were placed and a lament played by the Pipe Band.

Tuatapcrc.—More than 400 persons attended the Anzac Day service at Tuatapcrc. The parade, which was under the control of Mr J. Harper, consisted of 30 members of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, about 90 Home Guard members and a number of school children and was headed by the Western District Pipe Band. The assembly point was the school, from where the parade marched past the Waiau Memorial Library to the theatre. After the singing of the National Anthem, Mr G. McLeod, chairman, made brief reference to the meaning of Anzac Day and introduced the speaker for the service. Mi- J. G. Gasparich, of Invercargill. Mr M. McFadgen read a passage from Scripture and offered prayers. Miss N. Mclntyre was accompanist during the singing of the hymns. At the conclusion of the service, the parade was re-formed and marched to the Memorial Library. While the flag was being brought to half-mast, Bugler W. F. Harrison sounded the “Last Post.” Wreaths were placed on the memorial while the Pipe Band played the lament “Flowers of the Forest.” Mr McLeod then read the names of those who had served overseas during the last war and the flag was again raised while the bugler sounded “Reveille,” after which the parade was dismissed.

SERVICES IN CITY CHURCHES ■ Anzac services were held in several city churches yesterday. There was a large attendance at the citizens’ Anzac service at Central Methodist Church. The service was attended by about 50 members of the 20th Company (Bluff) National Military Reserve, under the command of

Captain A. St. C. MacGregor. The Minister the Rev. W. H. Greenslade, spoke from Psalm 11. There were good attendances at Knox Presbyterian Church for the Anzac services. In the morning a Scout parade attended the service and the minister, the Rev. Lex. Kernohan, took as his text the words: “Lift up thine eyes round about and see.” , At the evening service at St. Peter s Methodist Church the minister, the Rev. G. B. Hinton, in an Anzac address to a large congregation, told the story of the London Cenotaph in Whitehall and the Unknown Warrior’s tomb in Westminister Abbey.

DAWN CEREMONY AT AUCKLAND GOVERNOR-GENERAL LEADS PARDADE (P.A.) AUCKLAND, April 26. Darkness slowly gave place to a day unmarred by the glare of floodlights while the Anzac dawn ceremony of remembrance was enacted around the Cenotaph. The blackout proved to be of great benefit, for the ceremony was much more effectively symbolic than in past years. The ceremony was organized by the Australian Imperial Force Ex-Service-men’s Association, assisted by the Auckland Returned Soldiers’ Association. The Governor-General, Sir Cyril Newall, led the parade of ex-service-men through the Domain to the Court of Honour, and later recited the Anzac dedication and laid a wreath at the foot of the Cenotaph. Prayers were said and an address was given by the Rev. R. B. Davison, who had served as a chaplain in the Ist Australian Imperial Force. The choir of the Auckland Commercial Travellers’ Association led the singing of well-known hymns. Hundreds of motor-cars streamed into the Domain well before 5 a.m. and great numbers of persons arrived on foot from all directions, many of them carrying torches, and soon a large silent crowd was massed on the terrace and around the Court of Honour. A simple, reverent service was carried out after the Governor-General had deposited a wreath. Flags on the Cenotaph were lowered, the “Last Post” was sounded by trumpeters, and silence was kept for one minute. The choir then sang “There Is No Death.”

The service for the general public later in the day followed the customary lines. It was attended by 30,000 people, including 6000 ex-servicemen. The Governor-General, the Hon. F. Jones and the Hon. J. G. Barclay were present.

MESSAGES EXCHANGED BY FORCES

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, April 26. Anzac Day messages were exchanged between the military forces of New Zealand and Australia and the former Anzac generals. Messages were sent to Field-Marshal Lord Birdwood and General Sir Alexander Godley from army headquarters by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, in the following terms: “Sincerest greetings and good wishes from New Zealand on the anniversary of the Anzac landing, which this year is being so markedly commemorated by the deeds of the Australian and New Zealand troops reunited in the field of battle in defence of freedom and honour and inspired by the valour of the original Anzacs.” The Commander-in-Chief in the Middle East, General Sir Archibald Wavell, sent the following message to the Chief of the New Zealand General Staff, Major-General Sir John Duigan:

“The forces in the Middle East send greetings on Anzac Day, on which the New Zealand forces are once again displaying their gallantry in difficulties and dangers.” The message from the New Zealand forces to the Australian forces rejoices in the thought that the two countries are again serving together and ably upholding the honourable traditions established by the original Anzacs.