STREET PARADE

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27055, 2 June 1953, Page 8

STREET PARADE

25 MINUTES TO PASS ONE POINT MAYOR TAKES SALUTE IN SQUARE Colours dipped, officers saluted, heads turned to the command “Eyes right,’’ and aircraft roared overhead as the armed forces parade for the Queen’s Birthday passed a dais opposite the Cathedral where the salutes were taken by the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr R. M. Macfarlane. M.P.), flanked by the district heads of the three services and their staff officers. Dressed in full robe and chain of office, the Mayor doffed his tricorn hat as each detachment passed. Twenty-five minutes elapsed while the parade passed the saluting dais, making this one of the biggest military demonstrations in memory. Three bands, drawn up near the dais, played continually during the marching. The long column began to pass through Cathedral square at 3.15 pjn.. headed by the Naval party, spic and span in blue tunics and white caps, belts, and gaiters, their officers with swords drawn.

Then came the Army—officers wearing medals, men in black berets, Scots with swinging sporrans, followed for 10 minutes by infantry, with bayonets fixed, in khaki The Royal New Zealand Air Force ground party had just moved up when 28 aircraft from Wigram dipped low over the Square. The formation included 18 Harvards. six Devons, and four Mustangs. Smoothly-moving rubber-tyred vehicles, which began to pass at 3.27 p.m.. belied the weight of the heavy motorised column. Transports, big guns, light tanks, Bren-gun carriers, a bulldozer on its carrier, heavy tanks on their transporters generating equipment, a mobile workshop and ambulances passed by at a steady pace and regular intervals. Cheering broke out spontaneously as the colour party dipped in salute, and there was applause for each of the services.