NEW COLOURS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22427, 25 May 1936, Page 12

NEW COLOURS

WAIKATO REGIMENT TROOPING CEREMONY ADDRESS BY LORD GALWAY [fhom our own correspondent] HAMILTON. Sunday The ceremony of trooping the old colours of the Waikato Regiment for the last time and of presenting the regiment with new colours was carried out in the Hamilton High School grounds this afternoon before an attendance of 8000 people. The weather was ideal, and the park-like amphitheatre provided a delightful setting for the spectacular and historic ceremony. The old colours were presented to the Regiment at a brigade camp at Hautapu by Lord Liverpool in May, 1914. With the passing years they became faded and tattered, and new colours were made in England and paid for with funds subscribed locally. Complicated Movements The Waikato Regimental Band, under Lieutenant A. E. Savage, led the battalion on to the ground. LieutenantColonel V. R. Closey was in charge The complicated infantry movements of trooping the old colours were carried out with traditional precision by the band and colour guard. At this stage His Excellency the Governor-General, Viscount Galway, arrived to present the new colours. He was accompanied by his A.D.C., Captain A. W. Heber-Percy, Major-General Sir William officer commanding the New Zealand Military Forces, Colonel J. E. Duigan, officercommanding the Northern Command, Colonel Sir Stephen Allen, brigadier, First Auckland Infantry, Colonel R. Miles, chief staff officer, Colonel 0. H. Mead, adjutant-general, Commodore the Hon. E. R. Drummond, officer commanding the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy, and Squadron-Leader L. M. Isitt, officer commanding the Hobsonville Air Base.

His Excellency inspected the battalion, and then inspected the large gathering of representatives of the Returned Soldiers' Association and the members of the 16th Waikato New Zealand Expeditionary Force Veterans' Association, a number of whom travelled from Auckland for the occasion. Following "the retirement of the old colours to the strains of "Auld Lang Syne," the battalion formed into a hollow square. Drums were piled and the new colours were placed on them. The Dean of Hamilton, the Very Rev. T. P. Weatherhog, accompanied by the Revs. It. J. Boyt, P. Sergei and F. 0. Dawson, conducted the dedication service, after which Majors A. E. Gibbons and J. G. Bateson received the new colours from His Excellency. Record of Gallant Deeds Addressing the battalion, Lord Galway said the presentation of new colours was a great event, especially when the colours were inscribed with battle honours such as those won by the Waikato Regiment in the Great War. The names carried by the new colour? would be historic and famous for all time, while the gallaht deeds done at Gallipoli and in France would never be forgotten. Continuing, His Excellency said colours were not now carried into battle as a rallying point for the regiment. They were set apart as a symbol of loyalty and devotion to the Crown and Throne. The crown on the top of the colours was a symbol of that great link which bound us together in that great Commonwealth of Nations known as the British Empire. His Excellency said it was particularly apt that that day's ceremony should fall on Empire Day, when the people's thoughts turned to the Crown and men lifted their hats as a token of their loyalty. When one thought of the sorely-troubled world, one thanked Heaven with great humility that the British nation was a rock on which humanity rested, the great pillar and the great bulwark of civilisation. International Jealousies At a time such as the present when international jealousies made the situation in Europe very difficult, the British Empire maintained a firm and solid front. The British people desired peace most firmly, but they were determined to hold what they had and they would brook no interference with Empire affairs. Lord Galway said he was delighted to hear of the magnificent spirit which pervaded this battalion. He hoped that those who realised their patriotic duty would join the battalion and bring it up. to its full strength. The more pr<* pared they were and the more expert they were in training, the more unlikely would it be that the forces of the Crown would be required to take part in war. His Excellency expressed the hope that recruiting would be stimulated and that the battalion would be maintained at its full strength. Concluding, Lord Galway congratulated Colonel Closey on the excellent turn-out of the regiment and on the manner in which the complicated ceremonial movements had been carried out. He again extended his best wishes to the regiment. Colonel Closey thanked .His Excellency and accepted the colours with an undertaking to retain them in safe-keeping. The general salute and march past in review order followed and a notable ceermony camo to a close.