What happened? - Empire Day

What they did on Empire Day

'Into one imperial whole
One with Britain heart and soul,
One life, one flag, one fleet, one throne'

New Zealand School Journal, Part III, June 1917

The parades, building openings, flag salutes and earnest speeches of 1903 set the pattern for later Empire Days. At Oamaru schools that year pupils marshalled at their flagstaffs to hear patriotic speeches. Bugler Annand sounded a salute and 'the rest of the boys uncovered', then were sent on their way after hearing patriotic speeches from the head teacher and a member of the board. Their Maheno counterparts had a lolly scramble before taking the day off.

In 1907 Auckland public schools also celebrated by saluting the flag and by listening to patriotic addresses. Elsewhere in the city veterans and volunteers paraded and held a military tournament. In Wellington, Prime Minister Sir Joseph Ward and Governor Lord Plunket spoke to schoolchildren while 'lady members' of the Navy League decorated the city's Queen Victoria statue with flowers. In the evening the Wellington City Council and the Navy League joined forces to stage a patriotic concert. Invercargill observed the day as a general holiday.

In 1913 there were few more industrious imperialists than the Dunedin branch of the Overseas League. League members organised a big bonfire on Waverley Point, one of many lit to ring the globe on Empire Day, as well as a concert at His Majesty's Theatre.