ANZACS RETURN

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 56, Issue 4043, 4 May 1938, Page 7

ANZACS RETURN

TE AWAMUTU CONTINGENT. “A WONDERFUL INSPIRATION.” TRIBUTES TO AUSTRALIAN HOSPITALITY. “The greatest Anzac parade since the original one at The Landing in 1915,” was how one of the Te Awamutu representatives described the Anzac celebrations at Sydney this year." “There was all the old-time glamour, the patriotic fervour of the people, but, thank goodness, none ot the tragedy of The Great War,” he added. The Te Awamutu contingent arrived home at 5 o’clock yesterday morning. Those who made the return journey were Messrs R. G. Andrew, N. E. Rossiter and G. Hastie (Te Awamutu), R. A. Anderson and N. S. Lunn (Pukeatua), T. Thwaite and W. Forsyth (Ohaupo), T. H. Moisley (Paterangi), D. H. Cavers (Waikeria), and G. Lorimer (Te Ro re), Messrs Mel. Innes Jones (Te Awamutu) and J. W. Ferguson (Puahue) are spending a few days in Wellington before returning home. TYPICAL OF THE ARMY. Conversing with some of the Te Awamutu representatives, a Courier reporter soon gathered the impression that Army humour had in no way languished with the passing of years. On arrival at Sydney, the men were issued with an “identity disc” and passport in the form of a little booklet containing a full list of Sydney engagements, all of which were free to the men, space for notes, and three special songs. A marching song to the tune ot “Manu Rere” told of the approach of the “earthquake l mob from Maoriland” who were coming to celebrate; “and get this clear,” it added, “we’ll take the bridge home as a souvenir.” Another ditty, with recollections of “The Old Grey Mare,” asserted that “these hoary old Diggers they ain’t what they used to be, but neither are the Aussies quite what they used to be, over on the other side.” The third song, of a more serious nature entitled, “Song of the Anzacs in Sydney,” sung to the tune of “The Tarpaulin Jacket,” runs as follows: Oh Aussies, we come here to meet you, To visit your iron'd erf u I land. As Diggers and cobbers we meet you IVe greet you with heart and with hand. Chorus. Yes, we come here from good, old Yew Zealand, Far, far we have come to see you. The Kiwi has flown o'er the ocean To visit his friend Kangaroo. Through four years of fair and foul weather We fought the old Hun side by side, Our names are cemented together Wherever an Anzac has died. Facing bullet, and shrapnel and Winnie, Blood brothers we were when away ; And now that the old War is “fini,” Blood brothers we would be to-day. To join in your great celebration We’ve come, then, far o'er the sea. Let this be our prayer for your nation— Australia! Be great, and be free! WONDERFUL HOSPITALITY. All the men spoken to found words inadequate to express appreciation of the wonderful hospitality extended them on all sides. “The welcome by the Australian people was overwhelming and their hospitality extraordinary,” commented one returned Digger. It seemed as though Australian hospitality had left an indelible impression on every mind; had, indeed, demanded a great deal of endurance. UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES The dawn service and the main parade on Anzac Day were experiences none of the men would ever forget. Nothing more impressive than the dawn parade could be imagined. The men themselves were up at 3 a.m., and during the service at the Cenotaph there were 50,000 people assembled to join in paying tribute to the dead. xhe crowds that watched this service and the main parade, estimated at 350,000, were handled by the police with remarkable efficiency. “One felt that the visit- of the New Zealanders and the place of honour given them in the parade was going to mean still further progress in goodwill between the two countries,” stated another Digger.

RETURN VISIT. It is now certain that a large contingent. of returned men from Australia will cross the Tasman to help us celebrate our Anzac Day in Centenary Year, and all the local men were unanimous in expressing the wish that New Zealanders will on that occasion play the host nobly and well and that the “Aussies” will have as good a time in this Dominion as the New Zealanders had in Sydney. SILVER AND BLACK TIE. While in Sydney—and still wearing them on their return to Te Awamutu —all the New Zealanders wore as an emblem a special silver and black tie. By this means a New Zealander was easily recognised. It certainly had a psychological effect, which was one of the outstanding features of the whole wonderful trip. Some of the highlights of the tour will be recorded by J.T.P. in “From My Verandah” on Friday next.