HARD FIGHTING AHEAD

Southland Times, Issue 25347, 26 April 1944, Page 6

HARD FIGHTING AHEAD

General Freyberg’s Message

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, April 24. “Five Anzac Days have now been spent overseas by the Second N.Z.E.F. Hard fighting still lies ahead, both here and in the Pacific. As we apply ourselves to the task we can look back with confidence to the great example of perseverance and will to win of the troops who held on grimly in the last war and finally broke the German Army in 1918,” says Lieutenant-Gen-eral Sir Bernard Freyberg in a message to the New Zealand Returned Services Association. “We remember the Anzac spirit, and to the first Anzacs and our comrades of the Second N.Z.E.F. who have joined your ranks may I send this message of greetings and God-speed from all ranks over here.” The Dominion president of the Association, Mr B. J. Jacobs, sent the following reply: “Fifty-three thousand financial members, including over 20,000 Kiwis, cordially reciprocate your greetings and God-speed. All are fully confident that all ranks in the Middle East and Pacific will continue magnificently to uphold the spirit of Anzac, even though the days ahead may be fraught with even more arduous tasks; Kia Ora.”

To Major General H. E. Barrowclough, commander of the 3rd Division, Mr Jacobs sent the following message: “The New Zealand R.S.A., comprising elder and younger brothers, sends greetings to all ranks for the fifth Anzac Day of the war. Though the future of your theatre may be portentious, I am fully confident that the tasks will be brilliantly overcome.” The Australian High Commissioner, The Hon. T. G. deL. d’Alton, in an Anzac message to the people of New Zealand says: “Anzac Day 1944 has a pathos unique in our records. Not only is it a day of homage, but of disillusion in that the peace men died to preserve hqs been disrupted and can be re-established only by methods which they hoped to banish from the earth. War is.still a tragic fact.” MESSAGE FROM THE KING Stern Task Still Remains (P.A.) WELLINGTON, April 25. The Governor-General has received the following Anzac Day message from the King: — “On Anzac Day the Queen and I join in spirit with all who are observing this solemn celebration. After long years of effort the tide of battle is flowing towards final victory. I know that in the stern task which still remains to be accomplished the men of. my Australian and New ’Zealand forces will continue to display the same valour and resolution which were so gloriously manifested by those whom this day we commemorate.” Sir Cyril Newall has sent the following reply: “Your Majesty’s gracious message has been communicated to the Government and people of New Zealand, who deeply appreciate the sympathetic association of your Majesty and the Queen with them in their observance of Anzac Day. They desire to take this'opportunity of reaffirming their unswerving allegiance to your Majesty and the Throne and of expressing their confidence that the forces of this Dominion will continue to uphold the traditions of Anzac and play their full part in the achievement of final victory.” FOUR CEREMONIES IN WELLINGTON

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, April 25. Rain throughout the main Anzac Day ceremony in Wellington did not deter thousands from attending. Four official ceremonies were held at the Cenotaph. The first was a dawn parade attended by returned servicemen and a large number of citizens; the second was a parade by the Wellington branch of the Australian Imperial Force; the third was the principal gathering, which was followed by a parade of servicemen. The acting Prime Minister, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, placed a wreath on the Cenotaph on behalf of the Government. The final ceremony was the playing of “The Retreat” by the band and pipes and drums of the .Wellington Regiment. At the main service the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, read the following cable from Lieutenant-Gen-eral Sir Bernard Freyberg: “To our comrades, to the Army at home and especially to those in hospital, we send our greetings and best wishes on Anzac Day. To all who are remembering those who have died overseas we send our deepest sympathy. We, too, will remember our comrades on Anzac Day with pride in what they have done and deep regret that war should make such sacrifices necessary before victory can be ours.” SERVICES AT OTHER CENTRES

NIGHTCAPS AND OHAL— The ’ Anzac Day services at Nightcaps and Ohai were well attended by the public. Tlie principal speaker was Mr E. Bone, who gave an interesting address on what the word “Apzac” conveyed. Mr P. M. Grant presided at both services and the Rev. E. Brassall conducted the devotional services. The Rev. W. E. Bartie and Miss S. Lancaster conducted a Scripture reading. Wreaths were placed on the Gates of Remembrance at Nightcaps by members of the R.S.A. and pupils of the Nightcaps District High School and at Ohai they were placed on the post office steps. WINTON.— At Winton, Mr W. Bell addressed a large audience in the theatre. Mr J. S. Harrison, president of the R.S.A., presided and associated with him were the Rev. V. A. Bianci and the Rev. H. W. Haigh. The music was supplied by the Silver Band. Mr Bell said that time could not efface the memory of staunch comrades who had shared in the great adventure 29 years ago. He felt that today it was essential to look forward to a new order so that it would be impossible for pacifists to introduce a cheese-paring defence

policy and thus again plunge the world | into war. The parade to the memorial gates was headed by the Browns Pipe Band and included many returned men as well as Air Training Corps cadets and the Boys’ and Girls’ Brigades. Mr C. F. Grimwood was in charge of the parade. At the conclusion of the ceremony a lament was played by Pipe-Major H. Gilmour. BLUFF.— Anzac Day . was commemorated at Bluff by a service in the Town Hall. Hie Mayor (Mr N. W. McGorlick) presided over a good attendance of the public. Hie' Rev. D. H. Hay, of the Presbyterian Church, gave the prayer and read a Scripture lesson and the Rev. C. E. Roke, of the Methodist Church, delivered the address. Servicemen from the past and the present wars paraded to the hall and later to the war memorial on the Marine Parade, where wreaths were laid.