DEVOTION TO DUTY

Taranaki Daily News, 26 April 1935, Page 7

DEVOTION TO DUTY

THEME FOR ANZAC DAY LARGE GATHERING AT RAHOTU. NEED FOR TRUE BROTHERHOOD. RETURNED MEN SHOULD TALK. A large congregation assembled yesterday at Rahotu for the Anzac service, which in the country as in the town seems to be revered more As the years pass by. The gathering first assembled at the school memorial gates, where the school children had mustered under the supervision of the head teacher, Mr. J. T. Linehan.

The Rev. W. C. Grindlay briefly addressed the children, taking as his theme devotion to duty. In illustration he told the story of a soldier who despite the warnings of his superior officer went out into no man’s land to bring in a wounded comrade. He returned mortally wounded and with his comrade dead. In response to his captain’s query that it’had not been worth while, he remarked that it had been because when his mate saw him he had said, “I knew that you would come.” Mr. Grindlay urged the cliildren to endeavour to do their duty, pointing out that instead of settling any little quarrel by blows they should endeavour to reason it out. He also stressed how nobly the mothers had done their duty by sending their sons to the war. Three wreaths were added to the tributes at the foot of the memorial arch by four girls and two boys, the children saluting. Led by a contingent of the Now Plymouth Pipe Band comprising Pipe-Major Kirkland, Pipe-Sergeant Cruickshank, Pipe-Corporal Black and Piper McKinnon, a parade was then formed and marched to the Rahotu hall. There was a good muster of returned soldiers under the leadership of Lieut. W. Wright, followed by the territorials under SergeantMajor Bell and the school children.

HALL CROWDED FOR SERVICE. The hall was crowded for the service, at which Mr. G. Gibson presided. The prayers were recited by Canon Newbould and the lessons were read by Mr. Grindlay* In his address the Rev. H. A. Gould expressed pleasure at seeing such a representative gathering, and particularly at seeing so many young people present. They were reminded of the early days of the century, in the time of Edward the Peacemaker, when there was a very strong desire that men should be bound together bo strongly in economic, scientific and religious bonds that there should be universal peace, and in common brotherhood to recognise common united interests. In 1907 a well known writer stated that the strength of the weapons of destruction would bring about their own abolition. Since then, however, they had had the horrors of the Great War, with its great loss of life and unparalleled .suffering, of which returned men did not say very much. He sometimes wished they would Say more, as by removing something of the glamour and what was considered the glory of war from the minds of young people the returned men would be conferring a boon and a blessing. Special hymns were sung, the accompanist being Miss L. Andrews. The collection amounted to £8 9s, and that, Win £2 2s given by the Rahotu branch of the Women’s Division, will be included with the Rahotu Poppy Day funds and forwarded to the New Plymouth Poppy Day committee. Mr Geo. Gibson expressed thanks to all who attended the service, remarking that the splendid attendance showed that residents of the district fully appreciated the service, which had been held at Rahotu ever since the first anniversary of the landing. The pipe band played a selection outside the hall, after which afternoon tea was served in the supper-room by members of the Women’s Division, of which Mrs.,W. H. Butler is president and Mrs. F. B. Brewer secretary.

SERVICE AT OKATO TALK PEACE AND PURSUE IT. A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE. There v-as another large congregation in Hempton Hall, Okato, last night, when a simple but impressive service was held. There was a representative gathering of returned soldiers and Frontiersmen under Trooper T. E. Larking, and of members of the Queen Alexandra Mounted Rifles under Corporal R. Hickford, Canon Newbould recited the prayers and read the lessons, and the address was given by the Rev. W. C. Grindlay. Taking his text from Romans, “For not one of us lives as himself and not one dies to himself,” .the speaker said that it had been stated that the Anzac services were being continued for the purposes of inciting war. It was not possible to conceive of such a thing, which would be worse than criminal. He hoped that such a thought would be destroyed so that it would not interfere with the sympathetic or sacred purpose of the services. He only wished that the Sabbath Day was kept in the same sanctity as was observed on Anzac Day. Both the individual and the nation would then be better for it. He urged people to be optimistic and try to create an atmosphere of peace by always talking peace. Peace would then be more easy to attain. A collection was taken for the blinded soldiers’ fund. Special hymns were sung, Mrs. F. Jenkins being the accompanist. In the morning several wreaths were placed at the cenotaph.

INGLEWOOD CEREMONY LARGE NUMBERS ATTEND. APPEAL MADE BY MAYOR. Anzac Day was recognised at Inglewdod in fine weather and in the presence of a very large gathering. The band, returned soldiers, volunteers and school children assembled and marched in that order, with the band playing selections to the town hall, where the service was held. The hall was filled to its capacity. The service was conducted by the Kev. Blight, Captain Lord and the Rev. BoydBell. The Mayor, Mr. J. Gibbs, said that the hardships of the war were beginning to tell on many, and in his position as Mayor he had met many pitiful cases of returned soldiers who to-day were losing their nerve. It was every person’s duty to help those men. During the service appropriate hymns were sung and “The Rosary” was sung by Mrs. Nodder. The lesson was read by Captain Lord and prayers were taken by Mr. Blight, who also addressed the children. Mr. Boyd-Bell gave an address. . . . At the conclusion of the service in the liall all adjourned to the war memorial, where the returned soldiers and school children filed past and placed wreaths

on the monument. /‘The Garland of Flowers” was played by the band, after which the Last Post was sounded by Bugler S. Lovell and the Reveille by Trumpeter Wearne.

RECORD ASSEMBLAGE LARGE PARADE AT OPUNAKE. RETURNED MEN ENTERTAINED. There was a record assemblage at an Anzac service at Opunake. The New Theatre was crowded and many could not find seating accommodation. The order of the parade from the primary school was: Federal Band led by Sergeant-Major Short, returned soldiers under Lieutenant L. Des Forges and led by Captain D. Watt, president of the R.S.A., territorials under Lieutenant Sorrensen, girl guides under Mrs. T. N. Watt and Miss M. Cook, boy scouts under Scoutmaster J. Bell and assistant C. Burton, cubs under Mr. R., Campbell junr., school children under Mr. F. A. Bruce, Mr. C. N. Thayer, representing the Opunake Town Board, and the ReV. Penn, representing the clergy. The procession marched to the cenotaph, where wreaths were laid for the returned soldiers by Dr. Watt and Mr. J. S. Tosland, for the town board by Mr. Thayer, and by girl guides, cubs and school children. The Last Post was sounded by Mr. C. Humphries. The procession marched to the theatre, a large number of civilians following.

Dr. Watt presided at the theatre and outlined the Anzac landing. A prayer was said by the Rev. A. Penn. The assemblage joined in the hymn “God of Our Fathers,” an anthem was sung by the combined choirs, “What Are These?” and a selection was played by the band, “Tlie Earth is the Lord’s.” The Rev. G. Wood, a returned soldier, gave the address, followed by the hymn “O Valiant Hearts.” The Last Post and the Reveille were sounded by Band-Sergeant C. Humphries. The Federal Band under Conductor J. Humphries led the singing. After the service returned men and their wives and families were entertained at afternoon tea by Opunake women. A programme was given by the following: Trio, Mrs. Watt (violin), Mr. C. Humphries (cornet), Mr. D. Richards (piano); song, Mr. S. Coombes; elocution, Mrs. J. Morris; song, Mrs. L. H. Des Forges. Mr. Tosland spoke, his subject being “Anzac and the R.S.A.” Community singing was led by Mrs. Des Forges.