Battalion parades at Timaru

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33568, 24 June 1974, Page 12

Battalion parades at Timaru

(From Our Own Reporter)

TIMARU, June 23.

C Company (Timaru) of the 2nd Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, with elements of B Company (Ashburton) and the Christchurch support company had the distinction of being “right of the line” at Timaru on Saturday.

The battalion, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel M. J. Blair, was exercising its right of charter to parade through Timaru City with its Queen’s and regimental colours.. Led by the battalion band, the contingent of about 100 soldiers marched from the Army Hall in Barnard Street to the Soundshell on Caroline Bay by way of George Street, Stafford Street, and finally the Luke Road from which they presented a fine sight as they were silhouetted in an encircling movement against a cloudy blue sky and sullen sea.

The Mayor of Timaru (Mr C. R. Hervey), escorted by Lieutenant G. C. Turner, inspected the Colour Guard After the general salute, the battalion returned to the

Army Hall by road transport A short concert was given by the band at the Soundshell. Not since the "Army Day," which was a highlight of South Canterbury’s centennial celebrations in 1959, when both the battalion and Timaru City celebrated their centenary, has Caroline Bay provided such a martial atmosphere. On the 1959 occasion, the Mayor told the unit that the charter was presented to what was then the Canterburv Regiment. “This is the first occasion on which the battalion has exercised its right under the charter, and it marks the association between this city and the battalion,” Mr Hervey said. He congratulated the battalion on its splendid turnout and standard of drill. Spectators watched the proceedings from the stadium seating ih front of the Soundshell, while others commandeered vantage points on the bay hill and the paths leading from it.