MARCH THROUGH CITY

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23362, 23 June 1941, Page 4

MARCH THROUGH CITY

* — REINFORCEMENTS PARADE ON SATURDAY CROWDS SMALLER THAN USUAL Except at the saluting base at the City. Council Chambers in Manchester street, and at the Bridge of Remembrance, the crowds which gathered to watch the march through the city of reinforcements of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force, on Saturday morning were smaller than usual. The men marched impressively, and showed the obvious marks of careful and intensive -training. They were received with no more than the usual enthusiasm of a Christchurch crowd. They were clapped heartily all along their route, and at times there was cheeking. The men were in battle-dress, and carried arms with bayonets fixed. They looked fit and well, and their marching was frequently the cause of appreciative remarks from members of ,the crowd. 'Their route took the parade from the railway station along Manchester street past the saluting base at the Council Chambers, and when the head of the column was at the saluting base, men were still marching from Moorhouse avenue into Manchester street. From the Council Chambers, the men marched along Armagh street into Durham street, turned along Cambridge terrace over the Bridge of Remembrance into Cashel street, and then i along High street and Manchester street to Moofhouse avenue again, and dismissed at Fitzgerald avenue.

Alter the parade, many of the men had leave, and the city was filled with soldiers in battle-dress all day.,

The parade was under the command of Colonel S. D. Mason. When crossing the Bridge of Remembrance, the officers saluted as a mark of respect. The salute at the City Council Chambers was taken by the Officer Commanding the Southern Military District (Brigadier O. H. Mead), who was accompanied by the Mayor (Mr E. H. Andrews), the Minister for Public Works (the Hon. H. T. Armstrong), the Officer Commanding the Southern Field Force (Colonel E. T. Rowllings), the Officer Commanding the Royal New Zealand Air Force Station, Wigram (Group Captain G. S. Hodson), the Officer Commanding the Royal New Zealand Air Force Station. Harewood (Wing Commander Sir Robert ClarkHall), Lieutenant-Commander R. Rowsell, R.N.R., and Lieutenant-Colonel A. Bongard. . Units were played past the saluting base by the Burnham Camp Band, and the Burnham Pipe Band, the Band of the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry, and the Woolston Band also took part.