GUNNERS PARADE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 260, 3 November 1941, Page 6

GUNNERS PARADE

IST FIELD REGIMENT DRUM-MAJOR HONOURED Cheers for His Majesty the King concluded a full parade of the Ist Field Regiment, New Zealand Artillery, in the city yesterday morning. It was the largest assembly of the unit for some time, the ranks of the regiment having been swelled considerably by the addition of several hundred recruits who last week completed their three months' intensive training.

Under the command of Major L. P. Leary, M.C., the regiment, with the Auckland Artillery Band in attendance, fell in in Princes Street and marched to St. Matthew's Church for Divine Service. The speaker was Canon George Coats, who, in the course of his address, stressed the fact that there was

something worse even than war, with all its horrors, and that it was against that—domination by Nazi Germany and complete subjugation to Hitler and his war lords—that Britain and her Allies were fighting The final hymn and the National Anthem were played by the. band.

When the regiment returned to Princes Street after the church service, Major Leary presented the Efficiency Medal to Sergeant-Major F. B. Smyth, W.O. 11. In handing over the decoration he said that it had been largely due to Sergeant-Major Smyth s ability and enthusiasm that the band had been kept together through difficult times in the past and that as a leader he had been outstanding in competitions in which the band had participated.

Sergeant-Major Smyth started his career with the Ponsonby Boys' Brass Band in 1922 and was transferred to the Auckland Artillery Band in 1928. Nine years later he was promoted drum-major and in the same year was elected marshal for the bands of Auckland. At the centennial band contest in 1940 he was awarded the A grade drummajor's medal. He has led many echelons on their final parades through Queen Street.

At the conclusion of the presentation and immediately prior to the dismissal of the parade, Major Leary called for three cheers for the King, and the band again played the National Anthem.