BOER WAR PARADE

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32308, 28 May 1970, Page 16

BOER WAR PARADE

Veterans Now Too Old

This Sunday it is unlikely that any of the 17 members of the South African War Veterans* Association will be present at the annual commemorative ceremony held in Victoria Square. Mr J. A. Gregor, the branch secretary, said yesterday that it will be the first time the old soldiers have not paraded. Last year eight of them turned out and all were about 90 years old. ' Mr Gregor will lay the wreath on behalf of his association. Other wreaths will be laid by representatives of the Christchurch City Council, the Homeservicemen’s Association, the Christchurch Returned Services, Association and the Ist Canterbury Regiment. Music for the ceremony, which marks the signing of the peace treaty at Pretoria on May 31, 1902, will be provided by the Christchurch Garrison Band.

The Waipara County Historical Society is providing a display, “Mafeking Memories." in the Hawarden hall tomorrow and on Saturday. This will be opened by Brigadier J. T. Burrows. The display includes a wide range of Boer War relics—antique arms, medals, uniforms of the day, books, pictures and other memorabilia. Parties from schools will visit the display tomorrow; on Saturday the local Scout troop will light bonfires—as happened when new? was received that Mafeking was relieved.

The display will help the society raise funds for a museum building.