PARADE OF UNITS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 111, 12 May 1937, Page 10

PARADE OF UNITS

MILITARY v SPECTACLE

MECHANISED ARM CHEERED

Citizens of Wellington were treated to a military spectacle that surpassed anything seen in the city previously, when the parade of units formed up for inspection before the Coronation ceremony, and later took part in a ceremonial march-past. For the first time in the history of New Zealand, mechanised units were included, and the public showed their approval of this arm of the seryice by cheering lustily as' each battery passed. Before 10 o'clock thousands thronged Waterloo Quay to see the military units and returned soldiers form Up for the parade^ and before the hour sounded the lower end of the Quay was filled with men in uniform' or wearing the medals won in the South African War or Great War. Shortly after the hour, the parade moved into Lambton Quay and formed up between the Wellington Citizens' War Memorial and Government Buildings, the mechanised Units, which consisted of batteries of anti-aircraft guns, field guns; and searchlights, being stationed at the corner of the Quay and Bunny Street. The other units were drawn up in front of the memorial, and the returne soldiers marched in behind the military units, the whole parade filling the quay from Bunny Street to the front of the court buildings. The whole parade was commanded by Colonel R. W. Fenton, N.Z.A. The returned soldiers were under LieutColonel A. Cowles, V.D., with Captain M. S. Galloway, M.C.,; as adjutant, Squadron-Leader J. 'L. ' Stedman, N.Z.A.F.; with, Flight-lieutenant .W: Man, D.F.C., R.N;Z.A.F., as staff officer, commanded the Air Force; Lieutenant A. S. Gray, R.N.V.R., commanded: the Wellington Division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve; and Captain J.-L. Palliser, M.C., commanded the Legion of Frontiersmen. The Artillery Band, the Band and Pipes and Drums of. the Wellington Regiment, and the Air Force Band were in attendance. PARADE INSPECTED. At 10.30 Colonel Fenton called the parade to attention as his Excellency the Governor-General (Viscount Galway), accompanied by his aides and staff, approached from Bowen Street. As soon as the Viceregal party entered Lambton Quay the Royal Salute was given, and then, his Excellency inspected each unit, approximately half an hour being occupied while he went up and down the long lines of men. His Excellency was again saluted as he departed, and then the parade moved into Molesworth Street to take part in the ceremony from the steps of Parliament House. When the ceremony was over, the whole parade moved into the Parliamentary grounds by the Molesworth Street entrance and passed the steps to give the salute, the Royal Salute from the battery at Point Jerningham sounding as the mechanised units led the way, , the anti-aircraft guns and searchlights being in the place of honour. The; motor-cycle platoon of the Wellington Regiment followed, and then the* Field Artillery, the guns being carried on motor lorries, passed by. The other military, Air. Force, and R.N.V.R. units followed on foot, and the returned soldiers came last, South African War veterans, "pid Contemptibles," Imperial Units, Australians, and all New Zealand units being represented. , ' Between 1500 and-2000 took part in the march-past, the units represented being as follows, the numbers on parade being given in parentheses:— New Zealand Staff Corps, and New Zealand Permanent Staff (10), Royal New Zealand Artillery) (37), stli Field Battery (53), R.N.V.R. (79), 15th Heavy Battery, N.Z.A. (40), 19th Medium Battery (31), New Zealand Engineers (37), New Zealand Corps of Signallers (29), Manawatu Mounted Rifles (8), Ist Wellington Regiment (188), New Zealand Army Service Corps (36), New Zealand Field Ambulance (33), Air Force (34), Royal New Zealand Air Force and N.Z.A.F. (16), war veterans (approximately 1000). ,In addition to these there were fifty' members of the Trentham Training Depot, and 50 members of the R.N.V.R. as guards of honour before Parliament House. ' MARCH THROUGH CITY. After the column left Parliament grounds it marched through the city, the streets being thronged with thousands of people, who cheered the various units as they passed, by. Unfortunately many people expected the parade to pass through the upper end of. Lambton Quay and Willis Street, but as the greater number turned, down Grey Street, through Featherston Street to Panama Street, and then along Waterloo Quay, they were disappointed. Every section of the parade made a good impression, me mechanised units, the Air Force, and the R.N.V.R. receiv-. ing special notice. The streets traversed were gay with bunting, and the crowd was in a holiday spirit, the rejoicing at the Coronation of the King being in marked contrast to the quietness that usually marks such parades. The marching of the veterans was also a feature of the parade. the soldierly swing of the different units showing that none of the old soldiers had forgotten the training of many years ago. South African and Great War veterans alike were' in cheerful mood, and exchanged greetings as they marched along. They joined lustily in the cheers for, the King at the conclusion of the ceremony, their voices being heard from Molesworth Street far and wide, and occasionally they sang war-time choruses during the march.