ANZAC Day (1930).
So how did those men and women who had so bravely served and returned to Australia, their families and members of the community, in particular children commemorate ANZAC Day throughout the years ?
Newspaper articles from Trove, the database of the National Library of Australia contain thousands of articles that describe and contain photographs of the commemorative services and marches held in Perth, Subiaco and around the State and Australia over the years.
On ANZAC Day, 25 April 1930, 15 years after the landing of Gallipoli, the attendance of people at events had reached an all time high. On the 24 April, 1930, the day before ANZAC Day there was a ceremony at the Subiaco War Memorial and service attended by returned soldiers, militia men, boy scouts, girl guides, school children and members of the community. School children learned about the ANZAC tradition and laid a wreath at Subiaco War Memorial. A photograph of children at the Subiaco War Memorial was published in the Western Mail and is copied below.
Record numbers of people attended the Dawn Service at King's Park, participated in the march and attended a service on the Esplanade. Over 5000 people attended a Dawn Service at Kings Park where wreaths were laid, the "Last Post" was played, followed by a minute's silence, gun fire and "Reveille".
A record number of men who had served marched, over 2 224 in their various battalions including 220 men from Corporal Harry Chandler's 28th Battalion. Children and young people were also included, for example the Young Australia League and the Boy Scout and Girl Guides. Daughters and sons wore the medals of their fathers who had died.
Noticably absent from the early reports on ANZAC Day is the inclusion of women who participated in various roles including nurses during World War One. However, this story is for another post.
The articles and photographs are from Trove, the database of National Library of Australia. No copyright infringement intended.
West Australian, 25 April 1930.
HOMAGE AT SUBIACO WAR MEMORIAL.
After being addressed on the significance of Anzac Day a class from the Subiaco Central State School marched to the Subiaco War Memorial yesterday afternoon and laid a wreath there.
West Australian, 26 April 1930, Subiaco.
At Subiaco a simple ceremony at the War Memorial Tower at 2.45 p.m. was followed by a commemoration service at West's Picture Gardens Hay-street.
At the appointed hour returned soldiers, militia men, boy scouts, girl guides and school children were ready marshalled before the memorial with a large concourse of spectators about them.
The returned soldiers formed a lane leading to the steps of the memorial to which, after the Last Post had been sounded the Mayor of Subiaco (Mr. G. H. Olney) advanced and laid a wreath on behalf of the council and numerous citizens also placed wreaths.
The Reveille was then sounded and those present went in procession, headed by a band, to attend the commemoration service. The commemoration service was presided over by the president of the Subiaco sub-branch of the Returned Soldiers' League Mr. W. A. Wilkins. Addresses were delivered by the Mayor and Mr. W. Richardson. M.L.A. The gathering joined in hymns and prayers under the direction of the Rev. F. M. Oliver assisted by the Rev. A. H. Andrews.
Western Mail, 1 May 1930.
ANZAC DAY.
Record Attendances.
Throughout Australia and New Zealand on Friday, reverent millions laid aside workaday tasks and cares to do honour to the noble and imperishable memory of Anzac. In this State the day on which, fifteen years ago, the epic landing on the bleak Gallipoli peninsula marked Australia's bound to fully- fledged nationhood was remembered in reverence, and the crowds at the services were larger than at any previous commemoration.
At Dawn.
In the pale light before the dawn about 5.000 persons assembled before the State War Memorial in King's Park to pay a silent tribute to fallen comrades. No words marred the solemnity of "the occasion not even a spoken prayer disturbed the unspoken prayer in the hearts of all. As the first rays of tile sun limned a low lying cloud bank in the eastern sky, wreaths in honour of those who had fallen for their country's sake were placed on the memorial. The "Last Post" was followed by a short silence until the firing of a solitary gun and "Reveille" reawaken the echoes over the river.
The Parade.
Headed by 310 daughters and sons of fallen soldiers members of the Junior Legacy Club, all proudly wearing the medals their fathers had won many of those who inarched away marched again on Friday.
Of ther 4 039 who took part in the procession, compared with under 4 000 last year, 2 224 were men who had seen active service, compared with 1,686 last year.
The whole parade was under the command of Col. C. H. Lamb, who was acting Brigadier Commanding in the absence of the District Commandant ( Jess), Col. E. L. Margolin, in his capacity of Chief Marshal, was, however, virtually in charge of the arrangements, and he received capable assistance from four assistant marshals and members of the State executive of the R.S.L. Twenty-four military and other organisations were represented in the parade, and there were six bands -the R.S.L.. Perth City. Salvation Army, Coastal Scottish Pipers, Young Australia League and Militia.
The units represented, with their numbers, were: 51st Battalion (174 men): A.A.M.C. (88), A.A.S.C. Í10). Imperial ex-service men (150). ex-Naval Men's Association (84). Artillery (206). Engineers (148). 11th Batt. (296). 12th Batt. Í69). 10th Batt. (25). 28th Batt. (220), 32nd Batt. (90), 44th Batt. (162). 48th Batt. (78). South African and Imperial Veterans' Association (SOI. Canadian troops (6). Australian Flying Corps (48), Boy Scouts (140). Girl Guides (500), Young Australia League (125), Bandsmen (150), Hospital Patients Í110). 10th Light Horse (110). Militia Forces (800), Naval Reserve (100).
The Esplanade Service.
A striking proof that the observance of Anzac Day. anniversaries does not tend to diminish in completeness and in reverence as the years go on is borne by the figures for the attendances at the services at the Esplanade in the last three years. In 1928 the number was 24,000. In 1929 it was 35,000, and last Friday it was 45,000.
On the day at the "saluting base were the Governor (Sir William Campion) and Lady Campion, who was attended by Captain A. H. Boyes, the Premier (Sir James Mitchell), the Minister for Lands (Mr. C. G. Latham), Colonel H. Pope (representing the Governor-General) and representatives of the Navy and Army, and of the Returned Soldiers' League.
Following the singing of Kipling's Recessional, there was two minutes' silence. Then came a prayer by Senior Chaplain Archdeacon C. L. Riley. Four buglers and the R.S.L. Band gave the "Last Post," with muffled drum accompaniment; the hymn, "Lead, Kindly Light" was sung; and after the "Reveille" there were further prayers by Archdeacon Riley and Chaplain the Rev. D. I. Freedman. "O, God Our Help in Ages Past" was sung, and the gathering then listened to an address by the State President of the Returned Soldiers' League (Colonel H. B. Collett).
After Elgar's "Land of Hope and Glory" had been sung, his Excellency the Governor presented medals to the following: Liteut.-Col. J. E. Mitchell, Major G. D. Shaw. M.C., Capt. H. Wilson, Lieut. H H. Bagnall (Colonial Auxiliary Forces officers' decorations), Lieut.-Col. J. W. Finlay, Capt. L. Tuckett, M.C., M.M., Capt. J. L. McKinlay, M.M. (Colonial Auxiliary Forces long-service medals), Warrant Officer R. Deward (Meritorious Service Medal), Warrant Officer R. Allison, Staff Sgt. J. A. Stagg, Lance Sgt. A. W. A. Tweeddale (long service and good conduct medals).
The National Anthem concluded the service and the Governor then took the salute of the parade, the march past being marked by admirable precision.
At Fremantle.
A service in many respects like that at the State War Memorial was held at dawn at the Fremantle War Memorial. A notable feature was the prominent part taken by members of the Junior Legacy Club, who headed the procession to the memorial, and afterwards conducted the placing of wreaths on the memorial from the various bodies in the district.
Another service was held at the memorial at 2 p.m. and was largely attended.
In the Suburbs and Country.
Services were also held in the various churches in Perth, and at South Perth, Bassendean, Belmont, Cannington, Claremont, Cottesloe, East Fremantle, Guildford. Leederville, Mt. Hawthorn, Mt. Lawley, Nedlands, North Fremantle, Subiaco, Victoria Park, Queen's Park, Os-borne Park and North Perth.
In the country Anzac Day was observed at Geraldton, Bunbury. Kalgoorlie, Katanning, Northam and Wiluna.
Western Mail, 1 May 1930
THE DAUGHTERS OF THE FALLEN : With the sons of fallen soldiers, proudly wearing their fathers' medals, they led the procession.
Western Mail, 1 May 1930.
Anzac Day was impressively observed in Perth last Friday, the main ceremony occurring on the Esplanade. This striking photograph shows the assembly for the service, when the attendance was estimated to number between 40.000 and 45,000. As a wreath, the State War Memorial governed the gathering.
Western Mail, 1 May 1947. ANZAC Day 1947.
Western Mail, 4 May 1917.
Invalided Soldiers and Nurses in Motor Cars-There were 68 of these vehicles, all bearing: inscriptions such as "Your Mates Want You" and "Fill Our Places."
