ANZAC DAY IN THE UPPER HUTT.

Upper Hutt Weekly Review, Volume I, Issue 20, 1 May 1936, Page 3

ANZAC DAY IN THE UPPER HUTT.

CITIZENS' MEMORIAL SERVICE. Owing- to the wet weather the Citizens' Service was held in the Record Hall (by permission of Mr. A. J. McCurdy). The usual procession of returned men was, however, carried out. Falling- in at the Court House, the procession moved off, led bv the Upper Hutt Municipal Band, then followed the armed detail from the Trentham Camp, under Corporal Foubister, South African Veterans, Returned Soldiers, Legion of Frontiersmen and Boy Scouts. The marshal of the parade was Mr. A. Collins, assisted by the Secretary of the Returned Soldiers' Association. " Arriving- at the hall, reserved places for the parade was soon occupied and in a very short time the hall was overflowing with citizens, and as stated later on by one of the speakers, "one of the best crowds seen in Upper Hutt for Anzac Day." The Mayor presided and in his introductory' remarks stated that it was fitting- that once a year the people should unite and remember the 17,000 men not with us to-day. They left these shores in time of need, to honour the King and the Flag. The Rev. F. A. Tooley, St. Cuth-bei-t's Church, Wellington, who g-ave the address, stated "that the people who were now saying- we should not now celebrate Anzac Day had very short memories. Previous to the outbreak of the war there -was serious trouble in Ireland, also women were clamouring- for equal rig-hts in the Old Country, the rich were very rich and the poor were very poor, but when the war broke out, all this was forg-otten and differences set one side to flock to the colours, and the Dominions assisted by rallying- to her assistance. The one slogan carried by all the soldiers who went away at that time was "A War to End Wars." The women worked at munitions and a wonderful social spirit was created, all to defeat one common foe, "War." Men -went from this fair Dominion with promises of what the country would do for them when they came back, 'but definitely if it was not for the Returned Soldiers' Association, many broken and maimed men would have a very lean time. At the present time the world wants Peace. Peace was born out of unselfishness and the spirit of tolerance for others. We should work as individuals to create a sense of brotherhood and fellowship among ourselves, continued the Rev. Tooley, who advised the R.S.A. members to stick tog-ether and to hang on to it for all they were worth. It -was a marked feature during the war how the men stuck tog-ether, and the Returned Soldiers' Association are still here to carry on. In conclusion, the Rev. Tooley stated that the days.. of mourning- were passing, and we could only keep Anzac Day alive by honouring the spirit of the sacrifice. Captain Fitzpatrick led the Lord's Prayer, and the Rev. G. V. Kendrick offered up the general prayer-. The Scripture Reading "was given by the Rev. G. Hunt and Sister Edith Beer pronounced the Benediction. Bugler Brag-g, of the Training Depot, sounded the "Last Post" and "Reveille." The Upper Hutt Municipal Band, under Bandmaster L. Neighbours, played the "Garland of Flowers", and..also assisted -with the music for the hymns. At the conclusion of the service sev-:-eral~ returned- men ...stated the address given by the Rev. Tooley was one of the finest they had been privileged to listen . to.