ST. JOHN AMBULANCE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 145, 22 June 1931, Page 8

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE

CENTENARY OF REVIVAL YESTERDAY’S ANNUAL PARADE. The centenary of the revival of the St. John Ambulance Brigade was fittingly marked in Wanganui yesterday morning when the Wanganui, Eastown Railway, Castlecliff, Central Nursing and the Cadet divisions of the Brigade, in addition to the Legion of Frontiersmen, held their annual church parade and marched to the Trinity Alethodist Church. Prior to the parade the Wanganui St. John Ambulance Cadets, under the charge of Cadet Superintendent G. Scott, were inspected by Commissioner J. Brine and Corps Officer G. Sleight On behalf of the St. John Ambulance Association the Alayor, Air N. G. Armstrong, presented the cadets with a bugle, which, he said, he hoped w’ould be used in the service of God and for the benefit of the community. A bugle was also presented to the Legion of Frontiersmen. The service at Trinity Church, which was conducted by the Rev. E. T. Cox, ALA., was simple and impressive. On addressing the well-filled church he welcomed the St. John Ambulance Brigade and the Legion of Frontiersmen and drew attention to the celebrations of the centenary which -will be held in London throughout the week. On Alonday (to-day) a reception is to be held at St. James Palace which will be presided over by His Royal Highness the Grand Prior. On Tuesday (to-morrow) the investiture of officers by His Alajesty the King will take place at Buckingham Palace and on Wednesday at Westminster Abbey the Archbishop of Canterbury will conduct the commemoration ceremony which would be attended by the Duchess of York, as Commander-in-Chief of the Nursing Division. On Thursday a garden party is to be held at Buckingham Palace and the presentation of awards by Her Afajesty the Queen is to take place. On Saturday a grand review is to be held in Hyde Park where the Prince of Wales is to inspect the Brigade. Seeing that the centenary was being; commemorated in such a manner in London, said Air Cox, it w r as also very fitting that some reference should be made to it in Wanganui. He reminded the congregation that the Brigade had first been started in the year 1023 when they had been known as the Knights Hospitallers and had given wonderful service in Jerusalem where they had remained until 1291. From 1308-1522 they were stationed at Rhodes Island and in Malta from 1530-1798. In 1831 the Knights were again revived but this time in London whore they took over the name of the St. John Ambulance. For over nine hundred years they had been caring for the sick and the suf fering, taking for their motto the words “For the, Faith.” They had given their skilled service without cost to those who were in suffering and in need. The Brigade to-day was 7000 strong while there were 272 members in Wanganui. During the past year 846 cases had been dealt with on public duty and 1006 had been dealt with then the members were not on duty.

Before closing his remarks concerning the Brigade the Rev. Cox made refer once to two of their leading members who had passed away during the past week, namely Air T. B. Williams and Air Frank Crotty. These two men, ho said, had always given steady service to the Brigade during the years they had boon associated with it and they would be the poorer for their loss. On conclusion of the service the band played the procession back to Trafalgar Place.