ANZAC DAY HONOURED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 97, 27 April 1939, Page 7

ANZAC DAY HONOURED

LONDON CEREMONY LUNCH AT EMPIRE CLUB LONDON, April 25. In honour of Anzac Day the Empire Service League gave a lunch at the British Empire Club, Lord Milne presiding. The King acknowledged a loyal message. The New Zealand High Commissioner, Mr. W. J. Jordan, toasting the memory of Gallipoli, regretted that Anzac medals must soon be in cases and cited as "my dad's old medals.” Nevertheless the spirit of Anzac was widespread because it was the spirit of the first army assuring preparedness. General Sir William Birdwood’s name was an inspiration. “We follow —not. follow, but go with him—all the

way. Sir William Birdwood declared that. the young men now coming on were magnificent fellows, capable of carry- . ing out the traditions of duty, mercy, I loyalty, obedience, and sacrifice. Time j should not be wasted in the present kaleidoscopic situation. It should be realised that if youth joined the colours in sufficient numbers the Government need not face conscription. Sir Alexander Godley was present. Members of the twenty-ninth Divi- i Sion of the Royal Naval Division, the | British Home Forces, French Army. Empire Service League. Anzac Corps,, Indian Army, and Merchant Navy at- | tended a commemorative ceremony at the Cenotaph. General Sir lan ‘ Hamilton placed a wreath on behalf ; of the Empire Service League, repre- ' senting ex-servicemen throughout the Empire. MELBOURNE PARADE [ MELBOURNE, April 25. ! Twenty thousand ex - soldiers j marched through the streets to the I Shrine of Remembrance as a climax I to Anzac commemorative ceremonies., Among the marchers were the Min-1 ister of Defence. Mr. C. A. Street, and I the Lord Mayor, Mr. Cole, who, at a j special service attended by 70,000, | urged compulsory training and the. assembly of the whole of the re-1 sources of the Commonwealth to; meet an emergency which might arise ; any day. At a special dawn service i at the shrine 5000 Diggers were pre-: sent. Among those at a suburban service at Mentone was a German wear-' ing an iron cross and other decorations, who, after the service, greeted and informally met those whom he had fought against 21 years aao.