MAIN BODY REUNION

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29335, 14 October 1960, Page 18

MAIN BODY REUNION

570 Veterans To Meet Five hundred and seventy »en who sailed from New Zealand 46 years ago with the Main Body of the First New Zealand Expeditionary Force will gather in Christchurch tomorrow for their la*=t national reunion. Enrolments for the mutton have come from all parts of the country, and 350 of the men are bringing their wives to Christchurch for the week-end. The old soldiers, wearing their medals and decorations, will parade from Latimer square tomorrow morning to the Winter Garden for a eivic reception by the Mayor (Mr G. Manning). Lending the parade will be one of New Zealand's ctistingwihed soldiers, Brigadier-General Sir Herbert Hart, of Masterton. Sir Herbert Hart sailed with the Main Body a« a major, served throughout Gallipoli. Egypt, and France, rising to the rank of brigadiergeneral and gaining the awards of D. 5.0., C.M.G., C. 8.. and Croix de Guerre during the war. as well as being mentioned in dispatches five times. Later he was Administrator of Western Samoa. Tomorrow evening the men will have a dinner at the King Edward Barracks. Cr. A. R. Guthrey will deputise for the Mayor. On Sunday morning there will be a church parade at the Christchurch Cathedral, with the parade marching from Worcester street west. After the service they will lay a wreath at the War Memorial. As for the Saturday parade, the band of the First Canterbury Regiment will accompany the veterans. A church parade for Roman Catholics will be held at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. with the St. Bede’s College Band attending the short march. Scenic drives have been arranged for the visitors on Sunday: and on Monday there will be an all-diay reunion at King Edward Barracks so that former comrades in arms can meet again and exchange reminiscences. A dinner has been arranged for the wives on Saturday evening. ;md they have been invited to most of the oilier functions. bu<t Monday is a strictly old soldiers' day, the programme for wives being left “free all day."