THE TWO PARADES
£) L. lA* />’ 01 .S JA U GIR - Within a few duifs of ct-ioh' other durinf/ the tecek, I 'icatched tiro intrude# through Wellington citg—a sad one and u glad one. The jir#t I irttlched from the. high balcony of “The bo-minion'' ofitce, a tray up she #torey# above the. .street, where a solemn crowd lining the route of (he funeral procc#.ston of the lute Prime The early morning .sun .shone down on the gleaming bayonets of the ■soldiers on guard. a slow rhythmic tread of many marching feet heralded the approach, of the cortagc, and the impressive procession came by in a silence that was respectful a-nd profound. That was the sad one . . .
Oh Tuesday I .stood in a. cheering crowd and watched the glad parade of men from the “Achilles'’ as they marched by in a whirling mas# of streamers, /lag# and confetti. The streets were pared tor the heroes -with a multi-coloured ctbrpel, and on either side, and strung across the .street from building tn building, were flags and banners of welcome. Every colour of the rainbow gleamed in the sunlight as confetti and streamers rained, down on the marching men; every schoolboy and schoolgirl waved a flag of red, white and blue; and every sailor smiled proudly in thanks for his share of the ■welcome.
Hours later, when “all the shouting and. the. tumult died,” there was still a carniral carpet on the street# of the city, and every verandah post was entwined vnth coil upon coil of variegated streamers. Everywhere were reminders of the reception to the wen who had- proved themselves in the path of duty—placards and signs and red, while and blue displays in ivindoivs. ! wandered, about the Exhibition later, watching the “Achilles'* men explore the Courts and Playland. Here again, with lights and flags the heroes were honoured.
But in the Government Court I found something which impressed me far -more than- all the cheering and lauding. Placed before the 'Naval Court were two mute and. silent witnesses of that great sea battle of the River Plate—the battle flags. Their torn and tattered, fragments, burned with ammunition, n:cre to me a greater voice than all the cheering—they bore the scars of a battle fairly and gloriously won. f / , * Three cheers for the “AchUlcsN / |
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Bibliographic details
Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 164, 6 April 1940, Page 18
Word Count
383THE TWO PARADES Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 164, 6 April 1940, Page 18
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