THE GLORIOUS DEAD.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 18004, 26 April 1930, Page 9

THE GLORIOUS DEAD.

ANZAC HEROES HONOURED. HAMILTON’S SOLEMN OBSERVANCE. IMPRESSIVE SCENE AT CENOTAPH. One® again the day of nation-wide homage to the heroes of Anzao has come and gone. Once again old and young have Joined In heartfelt thankfulness at the deliverance of the world' from the horrors of war and in grateful remembrance of tho magnificent deeds of those who have found immortality.

A decade and a half have slipped by since that memorable day when the name of New Zealand was writ large on the scroll of fame. Much lias been written of Anzao, but it is a subject rather for thoughts than words. And yesterday the thoughts of thousands were centred cm loved ones not only on the heights of Gallipoli, but in France, in Flanders, in Egypt and in Mesopotamia. It is no day for pious sentimentalism. When the ideals for which the men of Anzac perished are visualised there can be no regret. Outside the ranks of materialists and egoists there can be nothing but pride, admiration, thankfulness and, above all, hope. It is hope that should be the dominant feature of this hallowed day, which commemorates not only the glorious dead but marks another milestone on the road to everlasting peace.

Now, after 15 long years, there should be no room for sorrow. The pain of parting, poignant though it was in the hearts of the bereaved, has been replaced by a stronger resolve and, what is more, a greater faith in mankind. This is the spirit which triumphed yesterday and invested the Anzao Day service with a new meaning. Reconstruction, and the urge to strive for better ideals with renewed vigour. This is the spirit which .is emerging from the shadow's of the past. And would those men of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps haye it otherwise? Day of Silent Tribute. On no other day of the year do the Church, the Militia and the Public combine more intensively for a common purpose. Throughout the country, from the big centres of population to the smallest village, there' are “two or three gathered together” for silent tribute. And for simple dignity and deep reverence, Hamilton’s observance eclipsed all previous commemorations.

Gallipoli

Unlike last year, when the wet weather was responsible for the great public service being held indoors, yesterday dawned fine and clear —symbolic, perhaps, of the renewed strength with which the war against war for al'l time is being fought. A - vast crowd numbering many thousands had gathered before the platform near the Cenotaph at 11.30, when the lengthy procession of returned men, territorials, cadets, scouts and girl guides arrived from the town. Led by the Waikato Regimental and Hamilton Municipal Band and the South Auckland Caledonian Pipe Band, the procession marched in stately tread to appointed positions in the park. There was a remarkable muster of war veterans, sprinkled with warriors from the South-African campaign and King’s Empire Veterans. Their number seemed greater than that of past years. ißattle-scarred in some oases and bedecked- with decorations, they had come in quiet respect for that ghostly assembly of old comrades, seeing yet unseen, who must -have crowded about that hallowed spot. And side by side with them were those for whom all had suffered, the youth of the land, many still unable to understand the immensity of it all. Among those on the platform were the Mayor, Mr J. R. Fow, who presided, Mr J. A. Young, M.P., Lieut.Colonel R. D. McFarland, Major P. H. Bell, Lieut. J. W. Barry, Revs. H. G. Gilbert, P. Paris, and L. M. Rogers, Pastor Byeroft, Pastor J. Salisbury, Adjutant Fraser, and Crs. R. Cobbe, F. J. Farrell, W. Bourne and D. D. Wilson. When the National Anthem had been sung with deep feeling the gathering joined in “0 God Our 1 Help in Ages Past,” which was followed by an opening prayer pronounced by the Rev. Percy Paris. Verses from the Psalms 2 and Micah 4 were then read by Major P. H. Bell, DjS.O., representing the Returned Soldiers’ Association. Inspiring New Anthem. In announcing the Anzac Hymn, which would be sung for the first time at a Hamilton commemoration service, the Mayor (Mr J. R. Fow), who presided, said the hymn was dedicated to the Anz-acs and to all who had given their lives in the Great War. He felt sure that in no other part of the Dominion on that day was the hymn being sung in more beautiful surroundings. Here where every tree was dedicated to a fallen soldier; where the noble river flowed silently by; and where the Cenotaph, a thing of beauty and grace, stood—here indeed was a suitable place to sing for the first time the Anzac Anthem.

Shyly at first and then gaining in volume, the great dedicatory paean of praise and thanksgiving was voiced to the band accompaniment.

In delivering a brief address, Pastor J. Salisbury said while he could not speak with the sympathy born of firsthand knowledge of the terrible conditions at the front, he could recognise with millions of others the deeds of the great dead, and be inspired to emulate their noble example of selfsacrifice. Faced Fearful Odds. “Fifteen swift years have passed since the memorable landing on Gallipoli, when the New Zealand and Australian Army Corps, with French and British troops, accomplished the almost impossible task of storming and taldng portions of the peninsula, under a perfect hail of rifle and mach-ine-gun bullets, bursting shrapnel and high explosive shells," said Pastor Salisbury. “Not only did they land without cover of any kind, hut they stormed almost inaccessible cliffs and remained; and had it not been for one day’s unfortunate circumstances, would have cleared the peninsula of the Turks, and probably then ended the war. Until aGl'lipoli, we never thought it possible that men could face such fearful odds, and die so recklessly in such an apparently forlorn hope. That they were out-num-bered four to one did not deter them, and many a fine lad fell without even so much as seeing the enemy, and scarce knowing why he die<i.

“-There were other storm centres besides the Dardanelles. We think of Passchendaele, Vimy Ridge, Loos and the Somme; the terror of the submarine, and the death that oame from the air. To-day we do honour to them, and also to those brave women who with them sailed away so cheerfully from our shores, and returned not, and who are now quietly sleeping so far away from the land, of their birth and loved ones. Their efust is mingled with the soil that grows the poppies of France and Flanders, and the daffodils of Gallipoli.” The speaker then read a poem which his brother 'had written at Gallipoli:—

Thy clay is soaked with British hlood; ’Twas freely given, that crimson flood, For freedom’s cause and brotherhood: Gallipoli.

Thy deep ravines the graves enfold Of those who would the right uphold; Their valiant fight shall e’er be told:

They stormed thy cliffs and ventured far From Anzac Gove and Sedd-el-Bahr, .By sea and land on thee made war: Gallipoli.

Shall we forget their noble deeds, These sons for whom the Empire

bleeds? Thy corpse-strewn shore their memory pleads: Gallipoli.

They bravely strove and suffered loss, Their deeds apparent failure gloss— Thine is the Crescent, theirs the Cros-s: Gallipoli.

Nor have they suffered thus in vain, T-ho’ victory’s prize they did not gain; Their great example shall remain: Gallipoli.

“This beautiful park of trees and flowers, with its Cenotaph, dedicated to the memory of those who died, reminds of’ them, but is a poor and pathetic substitute for their loved and remembered presence,” he continued. “We think also of those who survived, yet suffered material or physical loss Do we sufficiently realise our debt ta these, amongst us, back, truly, but who are- handicapped by disabilities which will cripple them for the rest of their days. I am always grieved -and sorry when I read of returned soldiers being convicted for misdemeanours, and often wonder whether the mental and nervous condition of men who tor years looked into the face of death is sufficiently known. Even they helped with the others to bring about the peace and comfort which we and our children -are now enjoying.” Pastor Salisbury then spoke at length on the good and evil of war, published elsewhere. The inspiring Recessional was then sung, followed by appropriate selections of sacred music played by the Regimental and Municipal Band. Profusion of Wreaths. As the clear notes of the bugle rang out in solemn requiem for the fallen, young men in khaki and girls in neat blue -uniforms approached the Cenotaph bearing many beautiful wreaths and 'floral emblems. In a few minutes the steps of the stately structure were smothered in -a glorious profusion of flowers. Among the many wreaths were those from the Hamilton Borough Council, the Waikato Returned Soldiers’ Association, the Hamilton q'echnical High School, the Hamilton High School, the Waikato Hospital, the South Auckland -Caledonian Society, officers, N.C.O.’s, and men of “A” Company, Ist Battalion Waikato Regiment, and of “C” Company, First Cadet Battalion, Waikato Regiment, Ist Hamilton Girl Guides, Kingfisher Patrol and Robin Patrol, Claudelands Girl Guides, First Frankton Guides, Salvation Army Guides, and many others, including -a large number of. private wreaths. After the sounding of “The Reveille,” the pronouncement of the Benediction by the Rev.. H. G. Gilbert, and the singing of the National Anthem, the huge crowd dispersed. Many remained to pay personal tributes at the foot of the Cenotaph, while others had as their destination autumn-tinted trees, living monuments to loved lost ones. Strikingly beautiful wreaths and floral arrangements were to be seen at the base of most of the trees, evoking expressions of admiration from visitors, who were greatly impressed with the reverential simplicity of Hamilton’s service.

WHO CAUSES WAR ?

THE LIBERTY OF CHOICE. MAN’S PREROGATIVE. War, its grim reality and its relationship with God and man, was the theme touched upon by Pastor J. Salisbury in a stirring address delivered at the Anzao Day service at the Soldiers’ Memorial Park yesterday. „“The justice or otherwise of our cause during th.e Great War is settled by the answering of two questions: First, Who started the war? and secondly, Why did we continue fighting for so long?” said Mr Salisbury. “In answer to the first, it is known that a nation precipihated war for national aggrandisement, and to the second question I would say, we believe the war was prosecuted to a successful issue as the only way to obtain desirable peace. I would suggest that any war waged for any purpose other than that of maintaining or obtaining peace has evil intent. The sentiment contained in the line from Newbolt’s poem, ‘The Fighting Tcmeraire,’ 'We’re all in iove with fighting,’ is dying. Most intelligent people do not want" to fight any more. Choice of Good and Evil. “It is set forth as an incontrovertible axiom that the Almighty cannot create a virtuous person,” the speaker went on. “Virtue is the result of.

choosing good in-stead of evil; when good or eyil are the choice. lam an intelligent, reasoning creature, knowing good and evil, and have the power of choice. I carry the responsibility of my own doings, and am content to do so. For God to destroy our liberty of choosing is to reduce us to the level of the brutes who do not know right from, wrong, and therefore cannot choose right or wrong, or he blamed for wrong. To deprive me i of the power to do wrong is to also I deprive me of the power to do right, j The principle must be applied to comj munities and nations, who also have 1 lie knowledge of right and wrong -and who possess a collective choice. God has committed to mankind the responsibility of governing their own affairs, and will not interfere with man’s prerogative in this, unless besought to do so by virtuous people. It is inconsistent to ask God to prevent a war if man with his right of government deliberately chooses war. Why should we expect God to interfere in one particular and not in all? God Nat Blameworthy. “Was it God’s choosing that hundreds, of thousands of splendid men were arrayed facing one another for the -sanguinary business of taking one another’s lives? No. We recall the pathetic fraternising of British and German soldiers on 'Christmas Day, when chocolates, biscuits, etc., were exchanged with handshakes of goodwill, because it was Christmas -Day, the day when Heaven announced by the (Christ: ‘Peace on earth and goodwill to men”; and then they trudged back to ihc trenches to renew the butchery on >Boxing Day. The principle of killing to settle international disputes is wrong. “If the responsibility of war rests with the nations, then its removal (if it can be removed) rests with them also, and every effort should be made to overthrow the god of war, and erect in its place the God of Love,” Pastor Salisbury added. “One of the proposals put fonvard by the League of Nations was the abolition of conscription and consoript armies, intending by this to reduce tho fighting Intention of the rising generation. Yet on the other hand to scrap completely .our defences would be folly, for armed devilment is still abroad. “Some good comes out of every war. Many heroes were found and made by the Great War. Out of suffering sometimes comes refinement of character. Our Lord Himself ‘learned obedience by the things whioh lie suffered.’ He was ‘made perfect through suffering.’ There was no perfection of sympathy until Ho had been ‘tried and tempted in all points like as wo are’.” AT CAMBRIDGE. AN IMPRESSIVE SERVICE. The gathering assembled to commemorate Anzac Day at Cambridge was the largest for some years. The parade to the Town Hall ol the various units under the command of Major S. N. Ziman was led by the Municipal Band. After every available seat in the hall was occupied, there wore at least 300' people who could not gain admittance. The Rev. H. G. Gilbert, of Hamilton, •delivered a most impressive address. The speaker, who had foeon a padre at tho front, and had seen muoh service, in emphasising the sacrifice -made during the war dealt separately with the supreme sacrifice of those who had fallen, then with those who returned, and lastly with those who worked and waited at home.

Mr Gilbert was assisted in the service by the Venerable Archdeacon Bell, Rev’s. G. W. Clark and J. W. Parker. The Mayor, Mr G. H. Priestly, presided.

At the olose of the service wreaths were placed on the cenotaph by the Mayor on behalf of the people of Cambridge, Mr T. A. Hicks on behalf of the Leamington residents and Major S. N. Ziman on behalf of the returned soldiers.