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First ANZAC Day Service Souvenir Booklet
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HORNCHURCH.
i
The First Anniversary of Anzac Day,
CELEBRATIONS IN HORNCHURCH.
Easter Sunday, April 23rd, 1916.
THE MEMORIAL SERVICE.
In their generations, and were the
All these were honoured glory of their times."—--Ecclesiasticus xliv., 7.
THE New Zealanders' celebrations in connection
with the first anniversary of Anzac Day
commenced on Easter Sunday morning, April
23rd, 1916, when a special Commemoration and Memorial
Service was held in the Parish Church of St. Andrew's,
Hornchurch, at IO o'clock, at which the Vicar, the Rev;
Herbert Dale, M.A., officiated.
868 men and 21 officers of the New Zealand Contingent
(of these only 46 men were fit for active service),
under the command of Major T, H. Dawson, marched
through the village from their Base Camp at Grey
Towers to the Church, headed by their splendid band,
under the Regimental Bandmaster, Sergeant-Major
Mahoney. p
With the exception of the two small Chapels on either
side of the Chancel, which were reserved for the general
public, the New Zealanders occupied the whole of the
Church, and even then, the large building was strained
to its utmost capacity to find room for all. Many of
the men occupied seats immediately in front of the
Altar rails, while several officers, failing to obtain seats
in the body of the Church, found their way to the
ringing chamber of the belfry (which is an open one),
where they were able to look down upon a scene, the like
of which had never before been witnessed within those
ancient walls.
2
The sight of those war-worn warriors, who had won
imperishable fame in Gallipoli on that memorable 25th
April, 1915, gathered together on such an unique
occasion in the grand old Church, beautifully adorned
for the Easter festival with thousands of lovely spring
flowers, could not fail to be impressive. But the spec-
tacle was made still more beautiful and impressive
by the draping of the pillar adjoining the Chancel on
the south side of the Nave with the large New Zealand
flag——recent ly presented by members of the Allington
family, and unfurled at Grey Towers Camp by Lady
Birdwood——to which was attached a laurel wreath with
the inscription on purple ribbon :-
"To the memory of those who died for the
Empire.—Anzac, 1915."
The Service opened with Kipling's Recessional, and,
after specially appointed prayers had been offered, the
Lesson was read by the Rev. Charles Dobson, Vicar of
The Sounds, New Zealand, one of the Chaplains of the
New Zealand Expeditionary Force.
There was then enacted the most moving and im-
pressive incident in the whole Service. Major Dawson
and two of his brother officer s, Major A. G. B. Price
and Lieut. W. Haeata, left their seats, and advanced
to the Altar rails, each bearing a memorial wreath,
which the Vicar received at their hands and reverently
placed upon the Holy Table. This simple act of public
homage by those khaki-clad officers will long live in the
memory of all those who witnessed it. It was a most
solemn moment, and in it one realised to the full all that
those flor al emblems stood for, and got a grip of the
inner meaning of that silent little ceremony, so eloquent
of true comradeship with those heroes who had fought so
valiantly, and who, with such unflinching courage, had
been faithful even unto death.
One of the wreaths was of gilded palms, the gift of
Mrs. Challoner, and bore a similar inscription to that
affixed to the New Zealand flag. The other two were
sent in memory of the fallen New Zealanders, and of
3
the Officers and men of the gallant 29th Division (of
which the Essex Regiment formed part), and which
landed at Cape I-Ielles at the same time as the New
Zealanders landed at Anzac. These wreaths bore the
following inscriptions :—
" To the memory of the fallen
(Gallipoli), from the Officers of the New Zealand Depot,
Hornchurch,"
and
-" To the memory of the fallen
(Gallipoli), from
the Non-commissioned Officers and men of
the New Zealand Depot, Hornchurch."
The first verse of "God Save the King " was then
sung, and was followed by the Sermon.
The Vicar took his text from Isaiah xxvi.4 : " Trust
ye in the Lord for ever, for in the Lord Jehovah is
everlasting strength." He approached his subject in
the full spirit of the text, and recalled the incidents
connected with the memorable landing and fighting at
Anzac on the 25th April, 1915. He spoke in eloquent
and appropriate terms of the magnificent and glorious
service rendered to the Empire by the New Zealand
and Australian Contingents during the whole of the
Gallipoli campaign. When referring to the landing, he
quoted the words of Mr. Buchan, as follows :——" That
our audacity succeeded is a tribute to the unsurpassable
fighting qualities of our men, the Regulars of the 29th
Division, the Naval Division, and not least to the dash
and doggedness of the Australasian Corps. Whatever
may be the judgment of posterity on its policy or its
consequences, the Battle of the Landing will be acclaimed
as a mighty feat of arms."
Yes, it was a " Day that the Lord had made." Let
us rejoice and be glad in it, for what did it mean 3 A
revelation to the eyes of all men that a force, a new
nation had sprung into the world's history ; a grappling
of the heart of the Mother Country in her age, to the
heart of your lovely and glorious Dominion with hooks
of steel ; the striking of a resounding blow for the Cause
4
of justice and right-dealing in the world; a veritable
battle for the Kingdom of God.
We cannot fully tell you how the heart of England
leapt out to you for the deeds that you had wrought ;
but we know that you are right to be determined that
the memory of those days shall never die. And we
people of Hornchurch are glad, are more glad thanlwe
know how to say, that you should be keeping the fir st
Anniversary of that Sunday in our quiet, simple, old
village Church, the Parish Church nearly nine hundred
years ago of that pathetic figur e in our national history,
the Patron Saint of our Army for centuries-King
Edward the Confessor-—before you pass next Tuesday
to commemorate before the eyes of the Nation the
actual date of your Anzac landing in that same Edward
the Confessor's glorious "Minster of the West," the
life-long dream, the realization of the vision of that
" as well as his
Poet-King, who thought in stone,"
supreme contribution to the country of his love.
He then paid a touching and pathetic tribute to the
comrades of his martial congregation who had died so
heroically on that now historic battlefiel d. In speaking
of the men who had made the great sagcrifice, he quoted
the following words of Cardinal Mercier, the venerable
leader of heroic Belgium in its spiritual life :—-" If I
am asked what I think of the eternal salvation of a
brave man who had consciously given his life in his
country's honour, I shall nothesitate to reply that,
without any doubt whatever, Christ crowns his military
valour, and that death, accepted in this Christian spirit,
assures the safety of that man's soul. ' Greater love
hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his
friends,' and the soldier who dies to save his brothers,
and to defend the hearths and altars of his country,
reaches the highest of all degrees of charity. He
may not have made a close analysis of his sacrifice ;
but must we suppose that God requires of the plain
soldier in the excitement of battle the methodical
precision of the moralist or the theologian P Can we,
5
who revere his heroism, doubt that his God welcomes
'him with love P ". '
After the Sermon the hymn, " For all the Saints
who from their labours rest," was sung in solemn
memory of the unreturning brave ; and again the strains
of the National Anthem echoed through the grand old
Church.
The Vicar then, holding aloft the gilded Wreath of
— palm leaves, pronounced the Benediction, and thus
brought to a fit ting close one of the most remarkable
and impressive services ever held in the history of a
Parish Church full of inspiring episodes and memories.
As the soldiers fil ed out of the church, a half-muffled
pea] was rung in honour of the heroic dead.
Mr. H. W. Alden, the Organist of the Parish Church,
presided at the Organ, and the service was fully choral.
A beautiful Souvenir of the service was presented to
«every member of the congregation, which Will doubtless
be greatly prized by all the recipients.
' St. ANDREW'8 CHURCH is the Parish Church of the New Zealand
Depot in England.
CLERGY :
«Chaplain 5' Vicar HERBERT DALE, M.A., New Coll., Oxford.
Assistant Curate-——TeRmevj>.oA}§LqLl—ERNevJ.. PARRY, A.K.C.
Acting Chaplainsjto the New Zealand Base Depét.
-Churchwardens—Mr. Walter Dendy and Mr. C. H. Baker.
.Deputy—Churchwardens——Mr. R. Dockrill and Mr. W. E. Langridge.
S:'dccmen—Messrs. Allen, Boulton, E. G. Bratchell, Brooks, T. Burden. Card,
. J. Dockrill, R. Dockrill, _E. Fry, G. Fry, T. Gardner, W. Halestrap,
T_. Johnson. W. E. Langrxdge, C. T. Perfect, A. J. Powell, G. Ruston,
Sibthorp, H. L. Symonds and T. W. Wedlake.
Tuesday, April 25th, 1915.
DEPARTURE FOR LONDON.
In beautifully fine Weather, with the sun shining
bright and hot as on any summer day—in fact, real
New Zealand weather, as one of the Anzacs remarked
-—the Contingent marched out of Grey Towers Gates
at about 8 o'clock on the morning of the 25th April,
headed by their mascot, a fine Newfoundland dog,
6
gaily wearing his new regimental coat. The music of the
band brought many of our villagers to their doors, or
to line the streets to give them a parting cheer as they
passed on their Way, en route for London, to take part
in the march through the streets of the metropolis,
which was to culminate at Westminster Abbey, where
the King and Queen were to join them in their great
Commemoration and Memorial service. It was noticed
that many of the gallant fellows limped bravely along,.
and that here and there was seen an armless sleeve
which told its own pathetic tale.
The celebration in London was fully described in
all the newspapers and journals throughout the Kingdom,
but, seeing that what I am recording is destined to appear
in book form, it would not be complete without a suitable
reference to what took place there, although my narrative
is more concerned with the actual doings of the Con-
tingent in our own Village. I therefore mention a few
leading incidents, and reproduce extracts from the
" ommg issue
M Post," of April 26th, graphically
describing in brief the great event, and giving the Order
of the Service in the Abbey
IN LONDON.
On their arrival in London the troops formed up in
Aldwych, and, with the Australian Contingent, num-
bered about 2,ooo strong. They then marched by way
of the Strand and Whitehall to the Abbey, and never
had soldiers a greater or more enthusiastic reception
by the London populace. With the New Zealanders
was their first V.C., Sergt. Cyril Bassett, of the New'
Zealand Engineers, and, in addition to the men who
Went up from Hornchurch, many New Zealanders joined
the ranks in London from the various Convalescent
Hospitals in and around the metropolis.
Of the number of Anzacs assembled in the Abbey,
about 250 were Wounded or disabled, including'
many who had been blinded in action or as the
result of wounds. These brave fellows were accorded
7
special seats, in situations favourable for hearing the
service.
The New Zealanders carried with them to the Abbey
a magnificent chaplet of English roses surrounded by
fern leaves, the National Emblem of New Zealand,
bearing the following inscription :—
" To the honour and immortal memory of the
Heroic Dead of the 29th Division, from their
New Zealand Comrades in arms, Gallipoli,
1915."
This beautiful floral emblem was hung on the Chancel
rails.
THE SERVICE IN THE ABBEY.
Immediately after the arrival of the King and Queen,
who were met at the West Door by the Dean (Bishop
Ryle) and Sub—Dean (Bishop Boyd Carpenter), and
escorted to the Sacrarium, where they took their seats,
the service opened with Dr. Walsham How's hymn,
'—' For -all the Saints who from their labours rest," sung
to Sir Joseph Barnby's music. This was followed by
the Lord's Prayer and the Collects and Wesley's anthem,
" after which the Dean, facing
Ascribe Unto the Lord,"
the congregation, spoke as follows 2-
Let us now unite in praise and thanksgiving for those our
brothers who died at Gallipoli for their King and Empire, in
the high cause of Freedom and Honour. More especially do we
commemorate the names of the following troops who took part
if) the landing :—
AUSTRALIAN : 1st——4th Brigades of Infantry ;
- Ist——3rd Brigades of Artillery ;
with Engineers, Army Service, Medical,
Veterinary, Ordnance, Naval Brigading,
Corps.
'NEW ZEALAND: Divisional and Infantry Brigade Head-
quarters ;
The Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury,
Otago Battalions ; i
with Field Artillery, Engineers, Medical,
Army Service, Corps.
All these fought most valiantly. Their deeds will be remem-
bered evermore. Their memorial is already inscribed in men's
"Late the imperishable renown of their daring and bravery. We
are resolved that, by God's gracious favour, our brothers shall Cagt. H_ Short) S.M_O. N.Z_ Base "" A. Jack
not have laid down their lives 111 vain. " _._,. Depot ]_ Langridge
" no man than this, that a man lay down ' " F
Greater love hath :1 J. H Hermld ' 'MLfl my
l h1s"l1fe ' d d h "
.
Anzac Day—the celebration in the
Dean and Sub-Dean, his Majesty stopped to speak to
and shake hands with Corporal Geange, a member of}
- the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, who is suffering
from paralysis as the result of injuries received in
Gallipoli. At the West Door, the Abbey clergy were
presented to the King by Earl Kitchener.
The officiating clergy were the Dean (Bishop Ryle),
the Sub-Dean (Bishop Boyd Carpenter), the Precentor ,
(Rev. L. H. Nixon), Canons Pearce, Carnegie, and
Charles, and Minor Canons Perkins, Aikin-Sneath, and
Westlake. Sir Frederick Bridge and Dr. Alcock pre-
sided at the organ, and the former also conducted the
massed band of the Australians and New Zealanders,
which played selections from Handel before the service.
The following are the names of the New Zealand
officers who were present at Westminster Abbey A:--
Brigadier-General G. S. Richardson, Lieut. L. G. Chaytor
C,M.G, ,, H. A. Christie
Colonel ]. G. Hughes, C.M.G., D.S.O. ,, F. Codd, A.P.M.
Lieut.-Col. C. H. J. Brown, D.S.O. ,, ]. D. Dryden
Major T. H. Dawson, O.C., N.Z. ,, J. P. Ferris
Base Depot G. H. Forsythe
of the anniversary of the landing of the Australian and New
Zealand Forces at Gallipoli——has come' and gone.' It has been
an event not readily to be forgotten by those who have been
privileged to take part in it. A new day of dignity and honour
has been added to the calendar of the Empire- No circumstance
was lacking to make the occasion illustrious. , The skies, as if
in high cabal with Britons, whether at home or from overseas,
were benignant. It was a day of warm and genial sunshine
such as we have not known in these latitudes since——may one
say without mockery ?—mid-January. The London populace,
eager to render tribute to their fellow-kinsmen whose gallantry
and se1f—sacrifice in the Empire's cause have moved every heart,
were able to throng the streets in comfort and with undimmed
spirits and undivided energies, to gaze at and cheer for those
whom they% delighted to honour. The march of the Australian
and New Zealand sections from the Strand to the Abbey was a
triumphal progress. The Commemoration Service at the
Abbey, which was attended by the King and Queen, many
Ministers of State, and soldiers of high rank, was one of the most
moving and impressive ceremonies that even the ancient
Abbey, with all its records of a thousand years, has ever known.
No nobler requiem have soldiers ever known ; and the comrades
of the fallen, who fil led yesterday the shrine of England's highest
and most heroic memories, cannot but have_ felt that hence-
IO
forward Westminster Abbey is theirs even as it never was before-
Anzac Day has written an inscription on the Abbey rolls which
will endure as long as the rolls themselves. _
It was a great day———a day, too, of great happenings, as our
other news columns testify. Yet no other events could dim the
success and the impressiveness of Anzac Day, the incidents and
memories of which must constitute another bond between the
Homeland and the Dominions beyond the Seas. Londoners
are little likely to forget the experience,in which their hearts were
so deeply stirred and engaged. And it is not presumptuous
to declare that our kinsmen from Australia and New Zealand,
who found themselves so much the heroes of the hour, are as
little likely to forget the experience either.
(Morning Post.)
THE RETURN TO HORNCHURCH.
The gallant Anzacs looked pleased and happy with
their splendid reception in the greatest of all great
cities on their return to Homchurch at about 2 p.m.
Many of them were wearing roses and other flor al emblems,
in their hats, which their fair admirers had shofir er ed'
upon them during their triumphal march, and the big
drum was decked with a beautiful flor al wreath tied
with blue ribbon. These men had the proud knowledge
of having taken part in one of the most memorable
and historic military pageants ever held in the capital,
which many of them, but for this war, would probably
never have seen.
At 3.30 o'clock the guests began to arrive at the
Headquarters, Grey Towers, and very soon the lawn
in front of the Mansion was crowded with friends of
the New Zealanders, who included many Hornchurch
folk. A great number of the visitors came from London
and other parts, and the large motor char-a-bancs of
the contingent were kept busily engaged bringing party
after party from the stations at Homchurch and Rom-
ford. ~ »
At 5 o'clock tea was served on the lawn, and immed-
iately afterwards General Sir William Birdwood arrived.
He remained in front of the Mansion for some little
11
time, where, after receiving the Officers of the Con-
tingent, many of the assembled company were intro-
duced to him
THE REVIEW.
The General then proceeded to the Parade Ground,
accompanied by Sir Thomas Mackenzie, K.C.M.G.,
High Commissioner for New Zealand, Brigadier-
General G. S. Richardson, C.M.G. (Officer commanding
the New Zealand Forces in the United Kingdom),
Lt.-Col. C.,H. J. Brown, D.S.O., Col. J. Hughes, C.M.G.,
D.S.O., and Lieutenant W. Haeata. On their arrival
at the saluting base on the north side of the parade
ground, where was unfurled the New Zealand flag,
the troops, under the command of Major T. H. Dawson,
with the following staff :—Major A. G. B. Price, Capt.
H. Short, S.M.O., and Captain G. Eliott——presented
arms, and the general salute was given.
General Birdwood then moved slowly up and down.
'the Eéing khaki lines, closely inspecting the men, and
now and again stopping to chat with them or to shake
hands. The inspection over, the troops marched past
in column, General Sir William Birdwood taking the
salute. ,
They afterwards formed up into three sides of a square,
and Sir Thomas Mackenzie then read the following,
message from the Prime Minister of New Zealand :—
Convey to all our brave New Zealand soldiers at to-day's
gathering hearty good wishes. Their friends and comrades
of the Dominion are proud of their gallant deeds, and a hearty
welcome awaits them on their return. Express New Zeala.nd's
warmest congratulations to those who are to be presented with
medals. MASSEY.
The High Commissioner, in the course of his address
to the troops, said some people considered that, as
the Anzac soldiers were not successful in their enter-
prise, only loss had resulted. That was a profound
delusion. They could not discuss the propriety or
otherwise of the line of action taken by the Imperial
Government, but they did know that the bringing
I2
together of so many men representing the Mother .
Country and the Dominions in a great enterprise of
war had developed a mutual friendliness and cemented
a bond which nothing could sunder either now or
in the years to come. In one respect New 'Zealand
seemed to have discovered the coming cloud of sinister
events earlier than the home Government. During
1909-10, while those guiding affairs in the centre of
the Empire thought that everything made for the
maintenance of peace and goodwill among men, New
Zealand, on the other hand, was quite sure that the
time had not arrived for beating swords into plough-
shares. So New Zealand, in common with Australia, set
about the passing of an Act to compel their people to
train for defence. " We were rather amazed," the
High Commissioner continued, " to find afterwards
that while we——I3,ooo miles away—perceived what was
threatening, those entrusted with the destinies of the
Empire—only 300 miles away from the seat of danger——
did not appear to think that anything possibly could go
wrong. We are to be consulted with regard to terms
of peace. We hope to be consulted a1so—and. that
very soon——regarding questiorm which are of common
interest within the Empire. We, for our part, are
intensely in earnest on the point that there shall be
adequate defence for the British Empire, and this can
only be done with land and sea forces commensurate
with our enormous responsibilities. The larger questions
of trade will no doubt engage the attention of our ablest
men, and we, for our part, keenly desire to increase
our trading relationship"s within the Empire. I am
confident the virility of the British people was never
greater. All they require is to be told what is necessary
to win the war and they will respond to the uttermost
limits of their power and abilities. We in New Zea-
land hold that the fir st duty of citizenship is to defend
our country and maintain it for those who will come
after us." (Moming Post).
At the conclusion of his speech the High Com»
13
missioner received a tremendous ovation from the
Offi c er sand men, and he then called for three cheers
for General Sir William Birdwood, humorously remark-
ing that, although it might not be in accordance with
military etiquette for him to do so, he was not under
the General's orders, and therefore could not be expected. '
to conform to such restrictions as were involved in
military codes. The cheers were given in that hearty
and staccato manner so peculiar to the New Zealanders.
Sir William Birdwood then rose to address the men.
Before he had been speaking many minutes it was
easy to see how it was he had obtained the inspiring
title of the " Soul of Anzac," and when he repeatedly
addressed his audience as lads and boys, he appeared
more comrade than great General. His sound and
good advice was interspersed with such genuine good
humour that it was little wonder that he was able to
grip them as few men have been able to do. He told
them that, although they had done well, and had never
failed to rise to the occasion, they had still a lot more
hot fighting to do before they got their enemy where
they wanted him. All the world had heard of their
glorious work. Out onflsl ePeninsula, time after time,
he had seen men climbing up the steep hills in the
extreme heat, and standing in the trenches under the
most trying conditions. On one occasion he met a
man carrying two heavy water bottles. " Rather
heavy, aren't they?" he asked, "Oh, yes; pretty
heavy " was the reply. " They would not be nearly
so heavy if they were full of rum." They argued it
out and came to the concluslilon that if it were rum
the bottles would probably be lighter and the man
would be heavier, and, possibly, never get on at all.
Only on two occasions had he heard grumbling. The
fir st time was from the men who were not in the fir st
line in the landing at Gallipoli, and the same thing
occurred in the evacuation. He was going down the
trenches on 19th December and heard several men)
complain that they were not in the rear-guard action.
I4
These were the only complaints he heard. He happened
to write to the Private Secretary to the King, giving
him an account of the evacuation and he replied :——" The
part of your letter which gave the greatest pleasure
to the King was where you described the men's com-
plaints, that they were not the last to leave. With
men of that sort you must, indeed, be proud of your
Corps."——-" And I am proud of my' Corps, and you
know it jolly well," added the General, " you are
all " dmkums "! He had not the privilege of being
born in the Southern hemisphere, but he was a soldier
of Anzac, and he hoped he might continue to be
throughout this war.
He went on to speak of the work which lay before
them in France, and expressed his confidence in their
" "
carrying on in a manner which would add still more
honour and glory to their records in this war. He
then gave them a few practical hints, and emphasized
the necessity of training and discipline. He pointed
out how much more valuable a soldier was as a fight er
when he was thoroughly trained and disciplined, than
one who was not efficient in those qualificat ions, and
concluded by saying that there ggere three great essentials
to a soldier :— (I) fight ing, (2) training, (3) discipline;
and the greatest of them all was discipline, without
which no soldier could hope to become a great fight er .
Rousing cheers again greeted the popular General
at the close of his speech, and he then distributed the
Distinguished Conduct Medals to the following non-
commissioned officer s and men :—
Sergeant-Major B. S. Boate ' Sergeant Bennett
Quarter—Master-Sergeant Graham Corporal Skinner
Sergeant-Major A. W. Abbey Driver Clarke
Sergeant Tavender ' Sergeant Comrie
Acting-Sergeant Hill Private Stockdell
Sergeant Spencer Private Crawford-Watson
Sergeant VVatson
The Band then played the National Anthem, and
brought to a close one of the most unique and eventful
ceremonies ever held in our village.
Is
A most pathetic incident connected with the Review
was the appearance on the parade ground of Trooper
Clutha Mackenzie, of y the Wellington Mounted Rifl e s,
son of Sir Thomas Mackenzie, a splendid fellow, standing
over six feet high, who had lost his sight in the fight ing
on the Gallipoli Peninsula.
THE ATHLETIC SPORTS.
Sir H. Rider Haggard says in one of his numerous
books that Britons wherever they are will celebrate a
fight in two ways :—at night they will mfi e t eatnd enjoy a
true British dinner, and the following day there will
be a Race Meeting and Athletic Sports. The Anzacs
are nothing if they are not sportsmen, as those who
witnessed the " All Blacks " will remember, and pro-
bably the recollection of those who played against them
will be even keener than that of the onlookers. True
then to the stock from whence they sprung, one day was
given up to sports in connection with " Landing Day."
This, took place on Wednesday, April 26th. It was an
ideal day for such recreation. " All Hornchurch "
was at Grey Towers, and a word of praise is due to the
committee who were responsible for the arrangements.
They were as near perfect as could .be.
The programme was a long and varied one. Some
of the entries, such as " Ti
Text follows (this has been OCR machine read from the document above and contains errors.
HORNCHURCH.
i
The First Anniversary of Anzac Day,
CELEBRATIONS IN HORNCHURCH.
Easter Sunday, April 23rd, 1916.
THE MEMORIAL SERVICE.
In their generations, and were the
All these were honoured glory of their times."—--Ecclesiasticus xliv., 7.
THE New Zealanders' celebrations in connection
with the first anniversary of Anzac Day
commenced on Easter Sunday morning, April
23rd, 1916, when a special Commemoration and Memorial
Service was held in the Parish Church of St. Andrew's,
Hornchurch, at IO o'clock, at which the Vicar, the Rev;
Herbert Dale, M.A., officiated.
868 men and 21 officers of the New Zealand Contingent
(of these only 46 men were fit for active service),
under the command of Major T, H. Dawson, marched
through the village from their Base Camp at Grey
Towers to the Church, headed by their splendid band,
under the Regimental Bandmaster, Sergeant-Major
Mahoney. p
With the exception of the two small Chapels on either
side of the Chancel, which were reserved for the general
public, the New Zealanders occupied the whole of the
Church, and even then, the large building was strained
to its utmost capacity to find room for all. Many of
the men occupied seats immediately in front of the
Altar rails, while several officers, failing to obtain seats
in the body of the Church, found their way to the
ringing chamber of the belfry (which is an open one),
where they were able to look down upon a scene, the like
of which had never before been witnessed within those
ancient walls.
2
The sight of those war-worn warriors, who had won
imperishable fame in Gallipoli on that memorable 25th
April, 1915, gathered together on such an unique
occasion in the grand old Church, beautifully adorned
for the Easter festival with thousands of lovely spring
flowers, could not fail to be impressive. But the spec-
tacle was made still more beautiful and impressive
by the draping of the pillar adjoining the Chancel on
the south side of the Nave with the large New Zealand
flag——recent ly presented by members of the Allington
family, and unfurled at Grey Towers Camp by Lady
Birdwood——to which was attached a laurel wreath with
the inscription on purple ribbon :-
"To the memory of those who died for the
Empire.—Anzac, 1915."
The Service opened with Kipling's Recessional, and,
after specially appointed prayers had been offered, the
Lesson was read by the Rev. Charles Dobson, Vicar of
The Sounds, New Zealand, one of the Chaplains of the
New Zealand Expeditionary Force.
There was then enacted the most moving and im-
pressive incident in the whole Service. Major Dawson
and two of his brother officer s, Major A. G. B. Price
and Lieut. W. Haeata, left their seats, and advanced
to the Altar rails, each bearing a memorial wreath,
which the Vicar received at their hands and reverently
placed upon the Holy Table. This simple act of public
homage by those khaki-clad officers will long live in the
memory of all those who witnessed it. It was a most
solemn moment, and in it one realised to the full all that
those flor al emblems stood for, and got a grip of the
inner meaning of that silent little ceremony, so eloquent
of true comradeship with those heroes who had fought so
valiantly, and who, with such unflinching courage, had
been faithful even unto death.
One of the wreaths was of gilded palms, the gift of
Mrs. Challoner, and bore a similar inscription to that
affixed to the New Zealand flag. The other two were
sent in memory of the fallen New Zealanders, and of
3
the Officers and men of the gallant 29th Division (of
which the Essex Regiment formed part), and which
landed at Cape I-Ielles at the same time as the New
Zealanders landed at Anzac. These wreaths bore the
following inscriptions :—
" To the memory of the fallen
(Gallipoli), from the Officers of the New Zealand Depot,
Hornchurch,"
and
-" To the memory of the fallen
(Gallipoli), from
the Non-commissioned Officers and men of
the New Zealand Depot, Hornchurch."
The first verse of "God Save the King " was then
sung, and was followed by the Sermon.
The Vicar took his text from Isaiah xxvi.4 : " Trust
ye in the Lord for ever, for in the Lord Jehovah is
everlasting strength." He approached his subject in
the full spirit of the text, and recalled the incidents
connected with the memorable landing and fighting at
Anzac on the 25th April, 1915. He spoke in eloquent
and appropriate terms of the magnificent and glorious
service rendered to the Empire by the New Zealand
and Australian Contingents during the whole of the
Gallipoli campaign. When referring to the landing, he
quoted the words of Mr. Buchan, as follows :——" That
our audacity succeeded is a tribute to the unsurpassable
fighting qualities of our men, the Regulars of the 29th
Division, the Naval Division, and not least to the dash
and doggedness of the Australasian Corps. Whatever
may be the judgment of posterity on its policy or its
consequences, the Battle of the Landing will be acclaimed
as a mighty feat of arms."
Yes, it was a " Day that the Lord had made." Let
us rejoice and be glad in it, for what did it mean 3 A
revelation to the eyes of all men that a force, a new
nation had sprung into the world's history ; a grappling
of the heart of the Mother Country in her age, to the
heart of your lovely and glorious Dominion with hooks
of steel ; the striking of a resounding blow for the Cause
4
of justice and right-dealing in the world; a veritable
battle for the Kingdom of God.
We cannot fully tell you how the heart of England
leapt out to you for the deeds that you had wrought ;
but we know that you are right to be determined that
the memory of those days shall never die. And we
people of Hornchurch are glad, are more glad thanlwe
know how to say, that you should be keeping the fir st
Anniversary of that Sunday in our quiet, simple, old
village Church, the Parish Church nearly nine hundred
years ago of that pathetic figur e in our national history,
the Patron Saint of our Army for centuries-King
Edward the Confessor-—before you pass next Tuesday
to commemorate before the eyes of the Nation the
actual date of your Anzac landing in that same Edward
the Confessor's glorious "Minster of the West," the
life-long dream, the realization of the vision of that
" as well as his
Poet-King, who thought in stone,"
supreme contribution to the country of his love.
He then paid a touching and pathetic tribute to the
comrades of his martial congregation who had died so
heroically on that now historic battlefiel d. In speaking
of the men who had made the great sagcrifice, he quoted
the following words of Cardinal Mercier, the venerable
leader of heroic Belgium in its spiritual life :—-" If I
am asked what I think of the eternal salvation of a
brave man who had consciously given his life in his
country's honour, I shall nothesitate to reply that,
without any doubt whatever, Christ crowns his military
valour, and that death, accepted in this Christian spirit,
assures the safety of that man's soul. ' Greater love
hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his
friends,' and the soldier who dies to save his brothers,
and to defend the hearths and altars of his country,
reaches the highest of all degrees of charity. He
may not have made a close analysis of his sacrifice ;
but must we suppose that God requires of the plain
soldier in the excitement of battle the methodical
precision of the moralist or the theologian P Can we,
5
who revere his heroism, doubt that his God welcomes
'him with love P ". '
After the Sermon the hymn, " For all the Saints
who from their labours rest," was sung in solemn
memory of the unreturning brave ; and again the strains
of the National Anthem echoed through the grand old
Church.
The Vicar then, holding aloft the gilded Wreath of
— palm leaves, pronounced the Benediction, and thus
brought to a fit ting close one of the most remarkable
and impressive services ever held in the history of a
Parish Church full of inspiring episodes and memories.
As the soldiers fil ed out of the church, a half-muffled
pea] was rung in honour of the heroic dead.
Mr. H. W. Alden, the Organist of the Parish Church,
presided at the Organ, and the service was fully choral.
A beautiful Souvenir of the service was presented to
«every member of the congregation, which Will doubtless
be greatly prized by all the recipients.
' St. ANDREW'8 CHURCH is the Parish Church of the New Zealand
Depot in England.
CLERGY :
«Chaplain 5' Vicar HERBERT DALE, M.A., New Coll., Oxford.
Assistant Curate-——TeRmevj>.oA}§LqLl—ERNevJ.. PARRY, A.K.C.
Acting Chaplainsjto the New Zealand Base Depét.
-Churchwardens—Mr. Walter Dendy and Mr. C. H. Baker.
.Deputy—Churchwardens——Mr. R. Dockrill and Mr. W. E. Langridge.
S:'dccmen—Messrs. Allen, Boulton, E. G. Bratchell, Brooks, T. Burden. Card,
. J. Dockrill, R. Dockrill, _E. Fry, G. Fry, T. Gardner, W. Halestrap,
T_. Johnson. W. E. Langrxdge, C. T. Perfect, A. J. Powell, G. Ruston,
Sibthorp, H. L. Symonds and T. W. Wedlake.
Tuesday, April 25th, 1915.
DEPARTURE FOR LONDON.
In beautifully fine Weather, with the sun shining
bright and hot as on any summer day—in fact, real
New Zealand weather, as one of the Anzacs remarked
-—the Contingent marched out of Grey Towers Gates
at about 8 o'clock on the morning of the 25th April,
headed by their mascot, a fine Newfoundland dog,
6
gaily wearing his new regimental coat. The music of the
band brought many of our villagers to their doors, or
to line the streets to give them a parting cheer as they
passed on their Way, en route for London, to take part
in the march through the streets of the metropolis,
which was to culminate at Westminster Abbey, where
the King and Queen were to join them in their great
Commemoration and Memorial service. It was noticed
that many of the gallant fellows limped bravely along,.
and that here and there was seen an armless sleeve
which told its own pathetic tale.
The celebration in London was fully described in
all the newspapers and journals throughout the Kingdom,
but, seeing that what I am recording is destined to appear
in book form, it would not be complete without a suitable
reference to what took place there, although my narrative
is more concerned with the actual doings of the Con-
tingent in our own Village. I therefore mention a few
leading incidents, and reproduce extracts from the
" ommg issue
M Post," of April 26th, graphically
describing in brief the great event, and giving the Order
of the Service in the Abbey
IN LONDON.
On their arrival in London the troops formed up in
Aldwych, and, with the Australian Contingent, num-
bered about 2,ooo strong. They then marched by way
of the Strand and Whitehall to the Abbey, and never
had soldiers a greater or more enthusiastic reception
by the London populace. With the New Zealanders
was their first V.C., Sergt. Cyril Bassett, of the New'
Zealand Engineers, and, in addition to the men who
Went up from Hornchurch, many New Zealanders joined
the ranks in London from the various Convalescent
Hospitals in and around the metropolis.
Of the number of Anzacs assembled in the Abbey,
about 250 were Wounded or disabled, including'
many who had been blinded in action or as the
result of wounds. These brave fellows were accorded
7
special seats, in situations favourable for hearing the
service.
The New Zealanders carried with them to the Abbey
a magnificent chaplet of English roses surrounded by
fern leaves, the National Emblem of New Zealand,
bearing the following inscription :—
" To the honour and immortal memory of the
Heroic Dead of the 29th Division, from their
New Zealand Comrades in arms, Gallipoli,
1915."
This beautiful floral emblem was hung on the Chancel
rails.
THE SERVICE IN THE ABBEY.
Immediately after the arrival of the King and Queen,
who were met at the West Door by the Dean (Bishop
Ryle) and Sub—Dean (Bishop Boyd Carpenter), and
escorted to the Sacrarium, where they took their seats,
the service opened with Dr. Walsham How's hymn,
'—' For -all the Saints who from their labours rest," sung
to Sir Joseph Barnby's music. This was followed by
the Lord's Prayer and the Collects and Wesley's anthem,
" after which the Dean, facing
Ascribe Unto the Lord,"
the congregation, spoke as follows 2-
Let us now unite in praise and thanksgiving for those our
brothers who died at Gallipoli for their King and Empire, in
the high cause of Freedom and Honour. More especially do we
commemorate the names of the following troops who took part
if) the landing :—
AUSTRALIAN : 1st——4th Brigades of Infantry ;
- Ist——3rd Brigades of Artillery ;
with Engineers, Army Service, Medical,
Veterinary, Ordnance, Naval Brigading,
Corps.
'NEW ZEALAND: Divisional and Infantry Brigade Head-
quarters ;
The Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury,
Otago Battalions ; i
with Field Artillery, Engineers, Medical,
Army Service, Corps.
All these fought most valiantly. Their deeds will be remem-
bered evermore. Their memorial is already inscribed in men's
"Late the imperishable renown of their daring and bravery. We
are resolved that, by God's gracious favour, our brothers shall Cagt. H_ Short) S.M_O. N.Z_ Base "" A. Jack
not have laid down their lives 111 vain. " _._,. Depot ]_ Langridge
" no man than this, that a man lay down ' " F
Greater love hath :1 J. H Hermld ' 'MLfl my
l h1s"l1fe ' d d h "
.
Anzac Day—the celebration in the
Dean and Sub-Dean, his Majesty stopped to speak to
and shake hands with Corporal Geange, a member of}
- the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, who is suffering
from paralysis as the result of injuries received in
Gallipoli. At the West Door, the Abbey clergy were
presented to the King by Earl Kitchener.
The officiating clergy were the Dean (Bishop Ryle),
the Sub-Dean (Bishop Boyd Carpenter), the Precentor ,
(Rev. L. H. Nixon), Canons Pearce, Carnegie, and
Charles, and Minor Canons Perkins, Aikin-Sneath, and
Westlake. Sir Frederick Bridge and Dr. Alcock pre-
sided at the organ, and the former also conducted the
massed band of the Australians and New Zealanders,
which played selections from Handel before the service.
The following are the names of the New Zealand
officers who were present at Westminster Abbey A:--
Brigadier-General G. S. Richardson, Lieut. L. G. Chaytor
C,M.G, ,, H. A. Christie
Colonel ]. G. Hughes, C.M.G., D.S.O. ,, F. Codd, A.P.M.
Lieut.-Col. C. H. J. Brown, D.S.O. ,, ]. D. Dryden
Major T. H. Dawson, O.C., N.Z. ,, J. P. Ferris
Base Depot G. H. Forsythe
of the anniversary of the landing of the Australian and New
Zealand Forces at Gallipoli——has come' and gone.' It has been
an event not readily to be forgotten by those who have been
privileged to take part in it. A new day of dignity and honour
has been added to the calendar of the Empire- No circumstance
was lacking to make the occasion illustrious. , The skies, as if
in high cabal with Britons, whether at home or from overseas,
were benignant. It was a day of warm and genial sunshine
such as we have not known in these latitudes since——may one
say without mockery ?—mid-January. The London populace,
eager to render tribute to their fellow-kinsmen whose gallantry
and se1f—sacrifice in the Empire's cause have moved every heart,
were able to throng the streets in comfort and with undimmed
spirits and undivided energies, to gaze at and cheer for those
whom they% delighted to honour. The march of the Australian
and New Zealand sections from the Strand to the Abbey was a
triumphal progress. The Commemoration Service at the
Abbey, which was attended by the King and Queen, many
Ministers of State, and soldiers of high rank, was one of the most
moving and impressive ceremonies that even the ancient
Abbey, with all its records of a thousand years, has ever known.
No nobler requiem have soldiers ever known ; and the comrades
of the fallen, who fil led yesterday the shrine of England's highest
and most heroic memories, cannot but have_ felt that hence-
IO
forward Westminster Abbey is theirs even as it never was before-
Anzac Day has written an inscription on the Abbey rolls which
will endure as long as the rolls themselves. _
It was a great day———a day, too, of great happenings, as our
other news columns testify. Yet no other events could dim the
success and the impressiveness of Anzac Day, the incidents and
memories of which must constitute another bond between the
Homeland and the Dominions beyond the Seas. Londoners
are little likely to forget the experience,in which their hearts were
so deeply stirred and engaged. And it is not presumptuous
to declare that our kinsmen from Australia and New Zealand,
who found themselves so much the heroes of the hour, are as
little likely to forget the experience either.
(Morning Post.)
THE RETURN TO HORNCHURCH.
The gallant Anzacs looked pleased and happy with
their splendid reception in the greatest of all great
cities on their return to Homchurch at about 2 p.m.
Many of them were wearing roses and other flor al emblems,
in their hats, which their fair admirers had shofir er ed'
upon them during their triumphal march, and the big
drum was decked with a beautiful flor al wreath tied
with blue ribbon. These men had the proud knowledge
of having taken part in one of the most memorable
and historic military pageants ever held in the capital,
which many of them, but for this war, would probably
never have seen.
At 3.30 o'clock the guests began to arrive at the
Headquarters, Grey Towers, and very soon the lawn
in front of the Mansion was crowded with friends of
the New Zealanders, who included many Hornchurch
folk. A great number of the visitors came from London
and other parts, and the large motor char-a-bancs of
the contingent were kept busily engaged bringing party
after party from the stations at Homchurch and Rom-
ford. ~ »
At 5 o'clock tea was served on the lawn, and immed-
iately afterwards General Sir William Birdwood arrived.
He remained in front of the Mansion for some little
11
time, where, after receiving the Officers of the Con-
tingent, many of the assembled company were intro-
duced to him
THE REVIEW.
The General then proceeded to the Parade Ground,
accompanied by Sir Thomas Mackenzie, K.C.M.G.,
High Commissioner for New Zealand, Brigadier-
General G. S. Richardson, C.M.G. (Officer commanding
the New Zealand Forces in the United Kingdom),
Lt.-Col. C.,H. J. Brown, D.S.O., Col. J. Hughes, C.M.G.,
D.S.O., and Lieutenant W. Haeata. On their arrival
at the saluting base on the north side of the parade
ground, where was unfurled the New Zealand flag,
the troops, under the command of Major T. H. Dawson,
with the following staff :—Major A. G. B. Price, Capt.
H. Short, S.M.O., and Captain G. Eliott——presented
arms, and the general salute was given.
General Birdwood then moved slowly up and down.
'the Eéing khaki lines, closely inspecting the men, and
now and again stopping to chat with them or to shake
hands. The inspection over, the troops marched past
in column, General Sir William Birdwood taking the
salute. ,
They afterwards formed up into three sides of a square,
and Sir Thomas Mackenzie then read the following,
message from the Prime Minister of New Zealand :—
Convey to all our brave New Zealand soldiers at to-day's
gathering hearty good wishes. Their friends and comrades
of the Dominion are proud of their gallant deeds, and a hearty
welcome awaits them on their return. Express New Zeala.nd's
warmest congratulations to those who are to be presented with
medals. MASSEY.
The High Commissioner, in the course of his address
to the troops, said some people considered that, as
the Anzac soldiers were not successful in their enter-
prise, only loss had resulted. That was a profound
delusion. They could not discuss the propriety or
otherwise of the line of action taken by the Imperial
Government, but they did know that the bringing
I2
together of so many men representing the Mother .
Country and the Dominions in a great enterprise of
war had developed a mutual friendliness and cemented
a bond which nothing could sunder either now or
in the years to come. In one respect New 'Zealand
seemed to have discovered the coming cloud of sinister
events earlier than the home Government. During
1909-10, while those guiding affairs in the centre of
the Empire thought that everything made for the
maintenance of peace and goodwill among men, New
Zealand, on the other hand, was quite sure that the
time had not arrived for beating swords into plough-
shares. So New Zealand, in common with Australia, set
about the passing of an Act to compel their people to
train for defence. " We were rather amazed," the
High Commissioner continued, " to find afterwards
that while we——I3,ooo miles away—perceived what was
threatening, those entrusted with the destinies of the
Empire—only 300 miles away from the seat of danger——
did not appear to think that anything possibly could go
wrong. We are to be consulted with regard to terms
of peace. We hope to be consulted a1so—and. that
very soon——regarding questiorm which are of common
interest within the Empire. We, for our part, are
intensely in earnest on the point that there shall be
adequate defence for the British Empire, and this can
only be done with land and sea forces commensurate
with our enormous responsibilities. The larger questions
of trade will no doubt engage the attention of our ablest
men, and we, for our part, keenly desire to increase
our trading relationship"s within the Empire. I am
confident the virility of the British people was never
greater. All they require is to be told what is necessary
to win the war and they will respond to the uttermost
limits of their power and abilities. We in New Zea-
land hold that the fir st duty of citizenship is to defend
our country and maintain it for those who will come
after us." (Moming Post).
At the conclusion of his speech the High Com»
13
missioner received a tremendous ovation from the
Offi c er sand men, and he then called for three cheers
for General Sir William Birdwood, humorously remark-
ing that, although it might not be in accordance with
military etiquette for him to do so, he was not under
the General's orders, and therefore could not be expected. '
to conform to such restrictions as were involved in
military codes. The cheers were given in that hearty
and staccato manner so peculiar to the New Zealanders.
Sir William Birdwood then rose to address the men.
Before he had been speaking many minutes it was
easy to see how it was he had obtained the inspiring
title of the " Soul of Anzac," and when he repeatedly
addressed his audience as lads and boys, he appeared
more comrade than great General. His sound and
good advice was interspersed with such genuine good
humour that it was little wonder that he was able to
grip them as few men have been able to do. He told
them that, although they had done well, and had never
failed to rise to the occasion, they had still a lot more
hot fighting to do before they got their enemy where
they wanted him. All the world had heard of their
glorious work. Out onflsl ePeninsula, time after time,
he had seen men climbing up the steep hills in the
extreme heat, and standing in the trenches under the
most trying conditions. On one occasion he met a
man carrying two heavy water bottles. " Rather
heavy, aren't they?" he asked, "Oh, yes; pretty
heavy " was the reply. " They would not be nearly
so heavy if they were full of rum." They argued it
out and came to the concluslilon that if it were rum
the bottles would probably be lighter and the man
would be heavier, and, possibly, never get on at all.
Only on two occasions had he heard grumbling. The
fir st time was from the men who were not in the fir st
line in the landing at Gallipoli, and the same thing
occurred in the evacuation. He was going down the
trenches on 19th December and heard several men)
complain that they were not in the rear-guard action.
I4
These were the only complaints he heard. He happened
to write to the Private Secretary to the King, giving
him an account of the evacuation and he replied :——" The
part of your letter which gave the greatest pleasure
to the King was where you described the men's com-
plaints, that they were not the last to leave. With
men of that sort you must, indeed, be proud of your
Corps."——-" And I am proud of my' Corps, and you
know it jolly well," added the General, " you are
all " dmkums "! He had not the privilege of being
born in the Southern hemisphere, but he was a soldier
of Anzac, and he hoped he might continue to be
throughout this war.
He went on to speak of the work which lay before
them in France, and expressed his confidence in their
" "
carrying on in a manner which would add still more
honour and glory to their records in this war. He
then gave them a few practical hints, and emphasized
the necessity of training and discipline. He pointed
out how much more valuable a soldier was as a fight er
when he was thoroughly trained and disciplined, than
one who was not efficient in those qualificat ions, and
concluded by saying that there ggere three great essentials
to a soldier :— (I) fight ing, (2) training, (3) discipline;
and the greatest of them all was discipline, without
which no soldier could hope to become a great fight er .
Rousing cheers again greeted the popular General
at the close of his speech, and he then distributed the
Distinguished Conduct Medals to the following non-
commissioned officer s and men :—
Sergeant-Major B. S. Boate ' Sergeant Bennett
Quarter—Master-Sergeant Graham Corporal Skinner
Sergeant-Major A. W. Abbey Driver Clarke
Sergeant Tavender ' Sergeant Comrie
Acting-Sergeant Hill Private Stockdell
Sergeant Spencer Private Crawford-Watson
Sergeant VVatson
The Band then played the National Anthem, and
brought to a close one of the most unique and eventful
ceremonies ever held in our village.
Is
A most pathetic incident connected with the Review
was the appearance on the parade ground of Trooper
Clutha Mackenzie, of y the Wellington Mounted Rifl e s,
son of Sir Thomas Mackenzie, a splendid fellow, standing
over six feet high, who had lost his sight in the fight ing
on the Gallipoli Peninsula.
THE ATHLETIC SPORTS.
Sir H. Rider Haggard says in one of his numerous
books that Britons wherever they are will celebrate a
fight in two ways :—at night they will mfi e t eatnd enjoy a
true British dinner, and the following day there will
be a Race Meeting and Athletic Sports. The Anzacs
are nothing if they are not sportsmen, as those who
witnessed the " All Blacks " will remember, and pro-
bably the recollection of those who played against them
will be even keener than that of the onlookers. True
then to the stock from whence they sprung, one day was
given up to sports in connection with " Landing Day."
This, took place on Wednesday, April 26th. It was an
ideal day for such recreation. " All Hornchurch "
was at Grey Towers, and a word of praise is due to the
committee who were responsible for the arrangements.
They were as near perfect as could .be.
The programme was a long and varied one. Some
of the entries, such as " Ti
Relates To
Part of Publication CollectionTauranga Memories (2011-2021) - Publications
First ANZAC Day Service Souvenir Booklet. Pae Korokī, accessed 11/08/2026, https://paekoroki.tauranga.govt.nz/nodes/view/49135
