Anzac Day No. 10
ABOVE: The Honour Board of the 42nd Battalion of the First AIF, located in The Crypt beneath The Cenotaph, in Brisbane’s recently-refurbished ANZAC Square. The Honour Board was dedicated on Anzac Day 1925. Photo courtesy of Peter Collins.
How Brisbane honoured Anzac.
ALL Australia mourned her illustrious dead yesterday [ 25 April 1925 ].
In Brisbane the tenth anniversary of Anzac Day brought forth sorrowful tributes from the whole of the populace.
Every church held a memorial service; there was the march of the Anzacs, an inspiring spectacle, full of sacred significance; the 42nd Battalion Honour Board and the Windsor Memorial were unveiled.
That Anzac Day will always be Australia’s national day was fully demonstrated, if demonstration were needed.
As early as 9 o’clock a silent, hushed multitude stood with heads bared before The Stone of Remembrance in Toowong Cemetery; where Canon Garland [ David John Garland ] officiated at a memorial service, soul stirring and sorrowful, but full of the hope of redemption.
Never was that glorious hymn, “Rock of Ages” sung so fervently, so feelingly, as in that graveyard in commemoration of the dead of Gallipoli.
“May their noble self-sacrifice inspire us!” said the Canon.
ABOVE: Standing before The Stone of Remembrance in the entrance to Toowong Cemetery, on Saturday, 25 April 1925, Canon Garland is flanked by members of HMS Concord’s Colour Party. This photo appeared in “The Week” on 1 May 1925 (pg16).
And in that phrase he summed up the whole spirit of Anzac.
Mufti predominated in the march of the Diggers, but the watching thousands could see in their mind’s eye the tattered and scarred uniforms of the trenches, as that army of young, old veterans marched by.
The inspiring march was followed by a memorial service in the Gardens, attended by a vast concourse, who joined in the singing of hymns.
The Premier [ William Neal Gillies ] and the Lieut.-Governor [ William Lennon ] were there.
Solemn Requiem Mass filled St Stephen’s Cathedral.
“If Anzac Day should teach us anything it should teach us to make the path of the returned soldier easier,” said Father J. Hennessy [ John Hennessy ], speaking on the commemoration of Anzac.
“It should make us more tolerant and more Christ-like in our action to our brothers.
“The spirit of the old Anzac is still alive, and I have no doubt, if the bugle sounded the call to arms tomorrow, there would be the same willing response as there was over 10 years ago.
“This is a day of sacred memories and regrets, as well as of national pride.”
In all other churches throughout the city and suburbs were similar sentiments voiced.
The Mayor of Greater Brisbane (Alderman Jolly) [ William Alfred Jolly ], in unveiling the 42nd Battalion Honour Board, said it would remind us of the colossal sacrifice by Australian soldiers and of the debt of gratitude we owe to them.
For Anzac really was just that — glorious sacrifice.
— from the front page of “Truth” (Brisbane) of 26 April 1925.
