AUSTRALASIA'S GREAT ANNIVERSARY.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 14160, 26 April 1916, Page 5

AUSTRALASIA'S GREAT ANNIVERSARY.

CELEBRATIONS IN LONDON

PARADE OF COLONIAL TROOPS

THE ABBEY ARRANGEMENTS,

Received April 25, 8.30 p.m.)

London, April 25

The great event written deep in Australasian history under the date April 25th will be celebrated with a religious ceremony at Westmnister Abbey, that venerable building being closely associated with every great national incident since the Norman William was crowned there. Its vaulted roofs have witnessed State funerals, public thanksgivings, and coronations, besides the routine of daily services, .for 800

years. To-day's great religious service will touch the furthest fibre's 'of the Empire. The first anniver;*iry of the Australians' and New Zealanders' landing on Gallipoli was devoted to honouring the memory of those heroes who fell in the campaign, and thus opened a' new and wonderful chapter in Australasia's record. The Gallipoli fighting was so full of stirring and tragic incidents that for days there have been signs of a popular desire to pay a tribute to those who gave their lives in the Empire's service. Anothor incentive has been the prospect of seeing many of the actual heroes who returned from the land of death and slaughter.

Of. the Australians and New Zealariders now in Britain nearly 2000 will participate in the service. Many are convalescent, and some have quite recovered. Of those present over 500 will be drawn from Monte Video, 400 from Abbey Wood, 200 from Horseferry road, and 200 from such hospitals as Harefield.

The New Zealanders, tinder Major Dawson, will detrain at the Temple station, and parade, on the Embankment. The Australians will be under Lieutenant-Colonel Johnstone;, A battalion belonging to Abbey Wood and Monte Video, will arrive at Waterloo, cross Waterloo Bridge, and combine with the New Zealandors in Kingsway. The procession will. march through the Strand and Whitehall to the Abbey.

Many Anglo-Australians will be accommodated at the windows and on the roofs of the Victoria, Queensland, West Australian and New Zealand offices. Sir Thomas Mackenzie and his staff have already moved into these new premises.

The arrangements at the Abbey are already complete. The massed bands and 600 fit men of the Australian Contingent will be accommodated in the north transept. The New Zealanders will enter the Abbey at the Poets' Corner, and occupy the south transept. They will find themselves among memorials of England's most noted men. On every hand there are reminders of those whose writings stirred the imagination and patriotism of the race, from Chaucer to Dickens.