MARCH PAST

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20603, 3 November 1941, Page 8

MARCH PAST

SALUTE TO G.O.C. ACTIVE SERVICE MEN NEW ZEALAND TROOPS (N.Z.E.F. Official News Service.) (Reed. Nov. 3, 9 a.m.) CAIRO, Oct. 30. The largest and rhost impressive parade ever held at the New Zealand base camp took plate to-day on the occasion of an inspection by General Sir Claude Auchinleek, Commander-in-Chief, Middle East. Thousands of troops took part, representing a large portion of the reinforcements which the N.Z.E.F. has at its disposal for the tough jobs of work which must lie ahead. The march past which followed the inspection look three-quarters of an hour from the time the first to the last line of men passed the saluting base.

The site of the parade was a large expanse ol' flat sand waste hear Lowry Hut, and ridged by a long escarpment. At Other times used for Rugby football grounds, the ground was this morning black from erfd to end and to a depth of over 100 yards with a dense mass of Now Zealanders from the various army corps awaiting the arrival of the G.O.C. in Chief.

Near the dais were seated a large gathering of members of the New Zealand Army Nursing Service, as well as a small detachment of the W.W.S.A. Other visitors included Lady Auchinlcck and Mrs. Frcyberg. Watching the parade were a number of correspondents representing world news services and well-known journals, including a large proportion of American. Second Inspection It was the second time General Auchinlcck had inspected a large-scale parade of New Zealanders. The first occasion was when he visited New Zealand divisional troops during the recent manoeuvres before they moved to the Western Desert. To-day he was able to see the type of men which to date have not seen the front line and have not been in the forward positions, but which have been and are training assiduously for the day when their services will be called upon. The bearing of the men was excellent, and must have created more than a good impression.

As General Auchinleck’s car drew up to the side of the parade ground, thousands of glittering bayonets flashed across thousands of breasts as the whole parade came to the present in the general salute, while the music was played by the canyi pipe band. The actual inspection meant the traversing by . the general and his party of the whole length of the ground. The inspecting party comprised General Auchinleek, MajorGeneral B. C. Freyberg, V.C., Brigadiers A. S. Wilder, A. S. Falconer and W. G. Stevens. Lieutenant-Colonels W. G. Gentry and S. M. Satterthwaite, Majors C. M. Williamson and J. D. Armstrong, and Lieutenant G. A. Possin. Tlie commander-in-chief was accompanied by aide-de-camps from Scots and Indian regiments. There were also present senior officers of the N.Z.E.F., including Brigadiers Hargest, Inglis and McCormick, the last-named being in charge of the New Zealand Medical Corps in the Middle East. Impressive Spectacle

Besides that provided by the pipe band, music for the parade was supplied by the base band and the band of an infantry brigade. The march past was the most impressive spectacle of the whole parade. As line after line of New Zealanders swung smartly past the saluting base they churned up the sand into a fine cloud, through which the next line emerged with bayonets glinting as though through a dense screen. From the parade ground they formed column of route and became a long blade line which disappeared slowly up the desert road and round the escarpment. Forty-five minutes after the first leading officer passed the dais on which were General Auchinleck, Major-General Freyberg and Brigadier Wilder, the pipe band forming the rearguard of the march past approached the saluting base. Thus concluded one of the largest ceremonial parades yet held by New Zealanders in the Middle East. •