ALL BRANCHES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 297, 14 December 1940, Page 10

ALL BRANCHES.

BRILLIANT PARADE.

DOMAIN SPECTACLE.

HOME AND OVERSEAS TROOPS

Auckland saw itr. defence forces in review to-day—and was proud of them. •

Never before has the Domain seen so impressive a parade of front line and tieience troops. Pride of place went to the Second Expeditionary Force men from Papakura who, in battle dress, marched and drilled with the effortless precision of seasoned troop 3. It was a typical Auckland day; bright, hot sunshine that bathed the green sward and the old oak trees that surround it in brilliant light. Later there was a tropical downpour, but that is another story. t irst to form up on the parade ground were the many Territorial units that make up portion of the northern field force. They paid the overseas troops a graceful compliment as they swung on to the ground by springing to attention. And the overseas troops marched proudly, with the sun glistening on rows of bayonets and the bands playing the "Tipperaries" of 1940—"There'll" Always Be An England" and "Roll Out The Barrel"—tunes that in after years will always be associated with the eager marching of New Zealand's manhood as it goes to war. Wave upon wave of applause swept over the Domain as these brown young men snapped into position, arms swinging with rare precision, halted and ordered arms with the snap of Guardsmen. There was applause, too, for the nurses in field grey and scarlet shoulder tabs, for the Woman's National Service Corps in neat field. khaki, ajid for the returned soldiers and the nurses of the last war who faced the parade to greet their comrades-in-arms- of a later age. Beyond the general salute there was little ceremonial drill in the parade, but again the thousands on the banks and the grandstand cheered as infantry rifles clicked to the salute. It was one of the finest military sights ever seen in the city. It was the men's turn to applaud when they were given permission to sit down during the addresses, which occupied some three-quarters of an hour. As prayers were offered by the padre and the band struck up the National Anthem, rain started to fall and soon turned into a deluge, which sent people scurrying for shelter. But the troops and the returned soldiers, and the nurses and the Women's National Service Corps stood firm.

There was a touching and entirely spontaneous incident as the returned soldiers marched off the parade ground. As they passed the young men of the reinforcements their hats came off in k blithe salute and they cheered the new guard as they marched away. Then discipline broke and the soldiers clapped and cheered these middle-aged men who might have been their fathers, but who • till marched erect and with pride in the men who were to follow them.