It was a soul inspiring sight for the few assembled at the memorial on the 49th commemoration as the men marched out of the gloom with resounding footsteps to the rat-a-tat-tat of the kettle drums.

Assembly was at the R.S.L. Club in Short Street, and when Parade Master Digger Cecil Johnson closed up the ranks at the memorial just on 100 soldiers shared a precious moment with the president of their sub-branch, Digger Stan Condon, as he placed their wreath of remembrance on the memorial.

No Like Campaign. The Revd. Wyville Thomson, himself a victim of injury during the Second World War, recalled the events that led up to the Gallipoli landing and what he rightly termed the greatest display of bravery and courage ever known in any campaign in world history.

Remembering the events and the men who shared in them they recalled the transports off Gallipoli and the men of Anzac, the British and the Gurkas, who - as the dawn pierced the sky - met resistance such as has never been known on any other occasion as they flung themselves at those Gallipoli shores.

Four thousand dead and wounded was the result of that landing on April 25, 1915, and in eight months there 7,500 died and 30,000 were wounded.

In some minds the campaign was regarded as a failure, with a terrific waste of great lives, but - said the Revd. Thomson - any cause fought in the name of righteousness, truth and justice can never be regarded a failure.

It was not a failure, he said, because no event in history has ever inspired a nation as did the heroism displayed on that day of Anzac.

In no campaign, he said, has bravery called for recognition as it did on that occasion when 10 V.C.s were won, seven of them in three days on the 7th, 8th and 9th august, 1915, and nine of the V.C.s went to Australians.

We remember them as they went forward to preserve this land for us, he said, and it is good to remember that all that we have has not been won without great cost.

With their ranks decreasing day by day, we thank God for them and their memories that remain, said Revd. Thomson.

However, he said, as we serve this generation and these to them their loyalty and devotion will have been useless unless we are prepared to make sacrifices comparable to theirs.

We must forget the strife and bitterness that divide us, he said; we must learn to live and die as they did and only then will we honour the memory of those who died for us, he said.

As we pause in quietness this Anzac morning to remember them we must dedicate ourselves to these things for which they so nobly fought and died.

Memories flooded back as buglers Digger Jack Pike and Les Boston sounded the Last Post whilst the parade stood facing the west. Kettledrummers Chess Pilcher and George Porter led the parade back to the R.S.L. Club.

Later in the Day. The quality of the day remained in keeping with the occasion when at 10.30 a.m. a large crowd proudly stood at the memorial as their returned men marched along Horton Street, preceded by Scouts, Guides, Red Cross and school children.

The wreath-laying ceremony was an impressive one, as civic and town organisations followed the R.S.L. in honouring and remembering their Fallen Comrades.

Wreaths were laid by the Port Macquarie Sub-branch of the R.S.L. (Mr. Alan Scott), the Rats of Tobruk Association (Mr. Wal. Heath), the Women's Auxiliary of the R.S.L. (Mrs. Chandler), the Red Cross (Mrs. Keena), Guides, Brownies, Scouts, Cubs, Municipal Council (the mayor, Ald. D. S. Kennedy), the C.W.A., Civilian Widows, the High School.

Returned men took part in the service on this occasion, Diggers Lloyd Doak and "Bill" de la Rue leading in prayer.

As at the Dawn Service, the Revd. Wyville Thomson again gave the address, broadening his remarks to embrace the noble manner in which as "sons of their fathers" men of the Second World War carried on in the cause of righteousness and peace.

He said the same spirit had carried on and traditions had been enriched by sacrifice and service.

Three characteristics stood out at Anzac Cove and had been revealed again, he said.

There was a willingness to sacrifice, something needed badly today; there was light-heartedness and good humour among the troops, and not only for that, but for their unquenchable faith and hope did they become renowned.

They were doing something they believed in, and fought only for that, he said.

The president of the R.S.L. Sub-branch, Mr. Stan Condon, presided at the service.

The Municipal Band, under the baton of Bandmaster Jack Pike, was present as usual and provided the music for the hymns sung by the assemblage.

Mr. Stan Low assisted as conductor and a very fine rendition of "Land of Mine" was given by the Primary School Choir, conducted by Mr. Edmonds.

n Photographs are from the Port Macquarie Historical Society collection.