Battalion gets new Colours

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33492, 25 March 1974, Page 2

Battalion gets new Colours

The presentation of new Colours to the 2nd Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, drew an estimated 15,000 people to Queen Elizabeth II Park on Saturday afternoon.

Most of the 200 men of the battalion on parade were Territorials, who rarely take part in a ceremony of this nature. The Band of the New Zealand Army and the Band of the 2nd Battalion supported them. After presenting the new Colours—the Queen’s Colours and the Regimental Colours —the Governor-General (Sir Denis Blundell) said that there might be some in this day and age who questioned such pomp and ceremony as a Colour presentation. There must be something missing in their blood if they could not enjoy ceremony for its own right, he said. “You inherit the glorious traditions of two fine regiments —and some 105 battle honours—of which any unit, in any country, could feel proud," said Sir Denis Blundell. Consecration The new Colours were consecrated by the Bishop of Christchurch (the Rt Rev. W. i A. Pyatt) and the Roman: Catholic Bishop of Christchurch (the Most Rev. B. P. Ashby). The bass drum of the drum-pile on which they were laid was used at Gallipoli and contains inside it a roll of the volunteers who fell in battle.

Perhaps the only “blue” during an afternoon of precision drill was during the consecration ceremony, when, instead of being at attention, the battalion remained at ease.

Led by the battalion band playing the regimental march,) "Charles Upham,” the four guards of the battalion re-: ceived enthusiastic applause! from the crowd when finally they marched past the Governor-General on their way out of the stadium. The Band of the New Zealand Army gave a masterly display, receiving a standing ovation at the conclusion of its performance. Among the guests at the ceremony were the Chief of the General Staff (Major- i General R. H. F. Holloway)) and the Minister of Defence (Mr Faulkner). Later in the afternoon, the battalion’s old Colours were laid up in Christchurch. Cathedral.