Auckland's Gala Day

Northern Advocate, 23 July 1943, Page 4

Auckland's Gala Day

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, This Day. Solid blocks of people wedged themselves in Queen Street and othei city thoroughfares today under a damp grey sky when men of the furlough contingent, reinforced by hundreds of others who returned earlier from battle areas, were honoured as they marched through Auckland to be entertained at a civic luncheon in the Town Hall. Showers of confetti and scraps of paper floated down, with snowstorm effect, from windows and rooftops as the men marched past. The occasion revealed what large numbers of men have returned to the city after lighting overseas. Smiling modestly, Brigadier G. Dittmer. much-decorated veteran of two wars and former commander of the Maori Battalion in Greece, led the parade, conspicuous in his scarletbanded cap, and received a personal ovation all along the route. Sustained cheering rose to a crescendo for a party of Maoris, some of whom, in the exuberance of spirits, acknowledged the cheers by waving their hats. A surprisingly large contingent of Air Force flyers and ground staff, some of whom had seen service in Britain, the Middle East and the Pacific, brought up the rear of the parade amid thunderous cheers. Prominen! in the procession were bluejackets representing R.N.Z.V.R. officers and ratings who had been in action on seas all round Ihe glebe.