ANZAC DAY IN SYDNEY

Taranaki Daily News, 26 April 1930, Page 9

ANZAC DAY IN SYDNEY

GREAT PARADE OF EX-SOLDIERS.

By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.

Rcc. 11 p.m. Sydney, April 25. Anzac Day in Sydney, under a brilliant sun, saw a wonderful commemoration of the suffering and sacrifice of Australians and New Zealanders on the grim shores of Gallipoli 15 years ago—a day that marked the trial of tiie youth of the nations and evolved a new name to be added to the honoured list in British history.

Before the dawn the first tribute to the memory of fallen comrades was laid on the Cenotaph in Martin Place by the Australian Legion of ex-service clubs with a brief prayer. Despite its brevity this gathering of 400 to 500 men in the half light like that out of which the flame-flecked landscape of Ariburnu gradually grew on that never-to-be-for-gotten morning was among the most impressive of the many following it to-day. By parties and individually they came with floral tokens of remembrance from hearts still aching but proud of the sacrifices their dear ones were strong enough to make when the call came. Later there was a march of 20,090 men, naval men, military units, and returned soldiers, with many bands. The diggers had marched, many of them, along the same route years ago, but their mission then was one of grim determination to uphold ideals that were threatened. To-day, unarmed, they moved to the Cenotaph to pay silent tribute to those who marched away with them on that other occasion and did not return.

Prom Martin Place the procession wound its way to the Domain where a great combined memorial service was held, attended by many thousands of citizens. A contingent of ex-soldiers of New Zealand occupied a prominent position in the march and laid a wreath on the Cenotaph in memory of comrades who sleep in foreign fields. Afterwards Mr. W. R. Blow, Government agent, placed a wreath on behalf of the Government and people of the Dominion.

Special services were held in the various churches, including St. Andrew’s Anglican and St. Mary’s Roman Catholic cathedrals, while every suburban country centre had its appropriate celebrations. Similar commemorations took place in other States and in Canberra.