Mounted Rifes In Ceremonial Parade

Northern Advocate, 13 May 1939, Page 2

Mounted Rifes In Ceremonial Parade

Whangarci saw the First Composite Mounted Rifles at full strength this morning, when the regiment, which is undergoing annual training at Kensington Park, paraded through the town. Well before the appointed time, there was a large gathering of the public on the street outside the Town Hall. The band of the Auckland-East Coast Squadron heralded the approach of the regiment down Bank Street, and in the van of the main body was a detachment of motor-cyclists from the Whangarci light car troop. Big Procession. With some 450 men and horses, and with rifles carried at the salute, the regiment .made a spectacular and imposing sight as it marched past the Town llali steps, where the Mayor, Mr W. Jones, and the officer commanding the regiment, Lt-Col. C. J. Pierce. M.C., E.D.. took the salute. Wheeling at the Triangle, the big procession then retraced its steps up Bank Street to return to camp. Most striking feature of the parade was the opportunity for the public to sec such a large number of horses togot her. an unusual, feature in this mechanised ago. The line appearance of the animals speaks well for the stamp of horse being bred in Northland, Waikato and the Auckland East Coast, from which the regiment is drawn.