LEST WE FORGET

My 1st Poppy (old style)

One of my personal favourite Anniversaries is Anzac Day when the country commemorates those killed in war as well as honouring returned servicemen and women. In the UK it is called Remembrance Day and in the USA it is called Memorial Day, but in New Zealand and Australia it is called Anzac Day and is held on the 25th April each year. I am of the generation that grew up shortly after the end of WW2 and Anzac Day has always had a special significance in our family as a time to reflect on family members who were involved in both World Wars in particular.

In recent years and mainly because of my family research. I have found and recorded details of family members , some of who are buried in a foreign grave or who returned home wounded or with war stories that have made an impression on me and my family. We have always looked on Anzac Day as a "Special Day" and I can remember as a child, the Parnell RSA full of old Digs who came back to the club after attending the huge parades we used to have in the Auckland Domain and at the Auckland War Memorial Museum. Woe betide any child who ran across the Consecrated ground in front of the Cenotaph at anytime of the year. We were extremely proud of our Uncle David when he was chosen to play the Last Post on the bugle at one dawn service and I can remember him practicing for weeks beforehand. It is not an easy instrument to play.

Vehicular Ferry Auckland

In the late 1940s and 50s everything was closed for the whole of Anzac Day and except for the noise from the RSA Clubrooms, New Zealand was QUIET! When I began marching in Highland Pipe Bands as a teenager, our Anzac Day parades were on the North Shore at Birkenhead and then on to Northcote. In those days we used to cross the harbour in a vehicular ferry and on my very 1st parade (which happened to be Anzac Day) I managed to get a lift with our Drum Major. Wearing a full dress uniform was a proud moment and everything was cleaned and polished to a very high degree. The Drum Major, Frank, kept looking at me sideways as we crossed the harbour and at one stage he asked me to get out of the car, so he could check my uniform as he was sure there was something wrong. Kilt was correct, Sporran was not too low, Doublet buttons were all in order, He was PUZZLED! Then just as we were getting back into the car he shouted out "Your bloody spats are on the wrong leg!" (I had the buttons on the inside) Oh the shame! But of course it never happened again.

Signals Pipe Band Auckland Domain

We then marched for a couple of years in the Main Auckland Anzac parade at the Cenotaph. In those days we started marching from Grafton Bridge, down Carlton Gore Road and along the Domain Drive to the Cenotaph led by a huge number of World War 1 veterans and about 12 pipe and brass bands. The sound of marching feet is still a vivid memory and it was sad when I took my daughter to a recent parade and the few veterans from World War 2, who could still march, left from the duck pond just down from the cenotaph. The World War 1 vets of course are just a distant memory and in fact I was fortunate enough to participate in the last parade in Auckland of the World War 1 Veterans, when we paraded up Queen Street in Auckland back in the 1970s

Then the band became attached to the Point Chevalier RSA and Mt Roskill RSA and have continued to march on Anzac Day at this venue ever since. (Mt Roskill has faded away in recent years, so the band doesn't attend there anymore)

Pt Chevalier Anzac Day

My claim to fame was to attend every Anzac Parade for over 30 years, except for one year when I was away on my honeymoon. (I managed to see the Anzac parade in the Nelson district of the South Island as we drove past) The Pt Chevalier RSA has a special place in my book of memories and I met and made many friends over the years. Anzac Day of course has always been a wonderful opportunity for us to pay homage to all those men and women who gave so much for the freedoms we enjoy today.

My most memorable Anzac Day parade was in 2004 when I had the privilege of marching in the New Plymouth City  Dawn parade and later in the morning at the main citizens service in the company of my 2nd Cousin Errol Allison. Errol (or Bill as he is known) had a very exciting and dangerous experiences and he is the last remaining member of the platoon that was commanded by our double VC Winner Captain Charles Upham. Errol served with the 21st Btn in the Desert and Crete, was captured at Bel

Errol in front of "the Kilted Person"

Hamed and became a POW who escaped 3 times. He is my Hero and at the age of 93 is still going strong. This Dawn parade was a fantastic experience for me, especially as I was allowed to march beside Errol and his comrades from the 1939-45 conflict and I will always remember the sound of marching feet and medals gently clanking in the darkness before the dawn. It was a memory I will never forget. A funny incident happened after the parade as we were all standing around chatting to old mates of Errol's. A young teenager approached me and said "What Scottish Regiment were you in during the war?" I replied "Listen here Sonny, a bit of grey hair doesn't mean anything!"

I have been a Service member of the RSA for more than 3 decades and have seen many, many changes. I do miss the cameraderie of Anzac Day parades, the 1st tot of rum after the march, lining up after the ceremonies to have a wonderful hot lunch of bangers and mash and veges cooked in a huge pot and the wonderful entertainment we enjoyed throughout the day. Many of my old RSA friends have passed away, but the memories of this special time will remain with me forever.

                                                            LEST WE FORGET