ANZAC DAY IN AUSTRALIA.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18552, 26 April 1930, Page 17 (Supplement)

ANZAC DAY IN AUSTRALIA.

TRIBUTES TO COURAGE AND SACRIFICE. (United Press Association—By Electrlo Telegraph—Copyright.) (Received April 25. 11 p.m.) SYDNEY, April 25. Anzac Day, in Sydney, under a brilliant sun, was a wonderful commemoration of the suffering and sacrifice of Australians and New Zealanders on the grim shores of Gallipoli, fifteen years ago; the day that marked the blooding of the young nations, and evolved a new name to be added tc* the honoured list in British history. Before 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 four to five hundred, in the half light, like that out of which the flame flocked the landscape of Aribumu, and gradually grew, on that never-to-be-forgotten morning, was among the most impressive of many following it to-day. By parties and individually, they came with floral tokens of remembrance from hearts still aching, but proud of the sacrifice their dear ones were strong enough to make, when the call came. Later there was a march of 20,000 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 the ideals that were threatened. Today, 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.

From 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 they laid a wreath on the Cenotaph, in memory of their comrades, who sleep in foreign fields. Afterwards Mr W. R. Blow (the New Zealand Government agent) p\acqs a wreath on behalf of the Government and people of the Dominion. Special services were held in the various churches, including St. Andrews Anglican Cathedral, and St. Mary’s, the Roman Catholic Cathedral, while every suburban country centre had its appropriate celebrations.

Similar commemorations took place in other States and at Canberra.