Marching Troops Endangered

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20568, 30 May 1941, Page 9

Marching Troops Endangered

A recent order concerning the carrying of lamps at the head and rear of a column on the march at night had an excellent vindication last night, when A Company of the Gisborne Battalion of the Horne Guard was route-marching in upper Gladstone road. A three-seater car which passed the column in one direction, going “flat out” according to an officer’s description, later was heard returning, still at high speed. Its lights were seen bearing down directly on the rear platoon of the column, and the car-driver evidently took warning at the last moment from the red light carried by the last man in the company. He swerved oft sharply, careered across the road, narrowly missing a youth on a cycle, and then struck a concrete curb with such force that sparks Hew from the contact. The car was last seen hurtling round into Stanley road, still travelling at high speed. Three light wardens on the intersection missed death or injury by the barest margin as the car passed them in its wild turn.