HANDING-OVER OF PLATOON

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 234, 1 July 1939, Page 13

HANDING-OVER OF PLATOON

Ceremony In Upper Hutt

WELLINGTON REGIMENT

The recently-formed Upper Hutt platoon of the Ist Battalion, the Wellington Regiment (City of Wellington’s Own), was handed over by the mayor of Upper Hutt, Air. J. Blewman, to Major F. L. Hunt, N.Z.S.C., area staff officer, at a ceremony held in Upper Hutt on Thursday uight in conjunction with a dance sponsored by the Upper Hutt branch of the R.S.A. Half of the net proceeds of the dance are to be donated to the funds of the platoon. The platoon marched to thfc hall to the music of pipers. It took up a position in the centre of the hall, and there prepared for inspection. The platoon commander, Lieutenant Elliott, then reported to the mayor of Upper Hutt, Mr. Blewman, who inspected the platoon. Air. Blewman was accompanied by Colonel F. W. Kemp, M.C., president of the platoon association, and Mr. S. F. Carver, M.M., president of the Upper Hutt branch of the Returned Soldiers’ Association.

After the inspection, Messrs. Blewman and Carver and Colonel Kemp returned to the entrance of the hall, where they met Major F. L. Hunt, area staff officer. An inspection of the platoon was carried out, and the official party then moved to the front of' the hall, where the handing-over ceremony took place. In a short speech, the mayor expressed the pleasure of the district in having the platoon, and said that the citizens of the borough greatly respected the men who were sacrificing their time in this way.

A message received from the Minister of Defence,. Mr. Jones, congratulated the men and wished them every success, and 'expressed appreciation of the valuable services given by the Upper Hutt Platoon Association and R.S.A. in the work of assisting the local platoon. In accepting the platoon, Major Hunt commended the men on their soldierly bearing and high standard of physical fitness. Ho felt certain that their good example would be followed by many others in the district. The members of the Upper Hutt Platoon had not enlisted in the heat of the moment, but had given considerable thought to the sacrifices entailed, and he felt sure that it was a sense of duty and a desire to do something for Upper Hutt in particular and New Zealand in general that had prompted them to enlist. A challenge cup, donated by Colonel Kemp, to be presented at the end of the year to the private considered to be the best all-round soldier, was handed over to Lieutenant Elliott.