E Battery Artillery Display

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31543, 4 December 1967, Page 14

E Battery Artillery Display

A remarkable piece of artillery nearly blew up a television cameraman at the E Battery artillery display ip Hagley Park on Saturday.

The gun, made at a cost of $6 at Addington barracks, was towed on tb the field by a Model T Ford. It was constructed of pipe, cardboard and wood, and boasted an ingenious elevating gear and thumb sighting device. When the order was given to fire, the cameraman moved in for his angle, but was rocked back on his heels when the whole thing exploded in front of him. That was when his camera stopped, and CHTV3’s newsreel on Saturday evening ended abruptly just before the blast. The home-made gun provided one of the lighter moments of the display, which was part of the centennial celebrations of E Battery, Christchurch Artillery Volunteers. The battery was disbanded in 1921.

More light relief was provided by the almost forgotten tropical kit of the Second World War. A squad dressed in hilarious “Bombay bloom-

ers” fired a 25-pounder of the kind used in the desert campaign. A simulated charge was also fired from a 15-pounder as used by E Battery from 1903 to 1911. A 105 mm. gun identical to those used by the New Zealand battery in Vietnam was picked up by an Iroquois helicopter and carried a quarter mile to show the capability of the aircraft. One blank was fired successfully from the 105 mm. gun, but it then jammed. More success was had with a practice royal salute by the 25-pounders of 32 Battery. The four guns fired two rounds each after being rushed up to occupy a position. Guest of honour at the display was Major-General (retired) G. B. Parkinson, who is the senior gunner resident in the district. He was associated with the 9th and 10th Batteries between the wars. Also present were the Mayor of Christchurch (Sir George Manning), Colonel R. Wickens, the former commander of E Battery, and Colonel C. L. Walter, colonel commandant of the Royal New Zealand Artillery.

A reunion “smoko” was held at H.M.N.Z.S. Pegasus on Saturday evening and a church parade at Christchurch Cathedral yesterday morning.