MILITARY PARADE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23339, 6 May 1939, Page 16

MILITARY PARADE

MARCH THROUGH CITY MECHANISED BATTERIES ' LARGE CROWD APPLAUDS " 600 RECRUITS ENROLLED While the second military parade in connection with the Mayor's recruiting campaign was on the march last night. Queen Street traffic was at a standstill, except for trams, for three-quarters of an hour. It was an impressive, parade of 35 officers and 450 other ranks all uniformed, and displaying latest equipment. The new mechanised units- were of special interest to the largo crowd that lined the route from Wellesley Street to Quay Street, and frequently applauded the various units.

Headed by the band of the Ist Battalion, Auckland Regiment, with its Btriking uniform of scarlet and blue, the parade of dismounted troops left the Drill Hall, Rutland Street, promptly at 7.30 At Quay Street, they swung round into Queen Street again, and the mechanised units followed on. All Units returned to the Drill Hall, where they were dismissed. One of the features of the parade was'tlie presence of several territorials wearing the new blue dross uniforms, which are how being issued. Many .Units Represented The officer in command of the parade was Colonel R. G. Milligan, D.5.0., and the parade staff officer was Lieutenant J. A. Worsnop, N.Z.S.C. Units taking part included the Ist Field Artillery Brigade, under Lieutenant-Colonel F. C. Soar; 13th Heavy Battery; 18th Anti-Aircraft Battery (mechanised); 20th Light Battery; Ist Field Company, New Zealand Engineers; Northern Depot, New Zealand Corps of Signals; Ist Battalion, Auckland Regiment, under Lieutenant 'J. Tilsley, M.C.; Ist Composite Company,, Army Service Corps; and Ist Field Ambulance. Special reservists now undergoing five months' course of training at Narrow Neck accompanied the 13th Battery. Bren guns, one of which is on display in a recruiting stand at the Auckland Winter Exhibition, were absent from the parade. The mechanised "section consisted of the motor-cycle unit, a battery of guns drawn by motor-lorries, in which the crews travelled, lorries of the Ist Composite Company, and vehicles canying anti-aircraft guns. /Recruiting Interest Quickens

As a result of the parade, there was ; some improvement in the number of young, men seeking to offer their services by enrolling at the city recruiting, booths.'That at the Drill Hall received about 30 applications for, the day, and one of the four in Queen Street enlisted about 16, in addition to many returned soldiers, who were posted to the reserve list. Large groups of people stood around the/booths, and also at two shop windows in the city where' the new dress uniforms of the territorials were on display. It is expected that the issue of these uniforms should be completed ■within a week, and the first full parade I in which they will be used will be that on the King's Birthday, June 5. ■ ■

Authorities' Gratified Expressing gratification with the progress of the campaign, the Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis, said last night that since the appeal was launched 600 recruits had enrolled. In one day the lists had been increased by 124. With another week of the campaign to-go, he added, the authorities could take heart in the belief that the objective of 1000 extra' enlistments would be reached. The example of the 600 young men • who had joined should add impetus to the response. " This effort in Auckland has been more successful than any other of its kind ■in New Zealand in the past 10 years," said Colonel N. W. McD. Weir, officer commanding the northern military district, last night. The campaign' had stimulated interest generally in the territorial army, and had brought home to the men of the community the necessity for maintaining the army at - ' its full peace establishment. "Not ojilv are the authorities gratified/ with 'the- number of enrolments," Colonel Weir added, "but they are , impressed by the calibre of the recruits. Generally speaking, a fine type of man has offered his services.". The campaign will continue for another week. The final stages will be reached on Thursday and Friday nights, 1 when the recruiting registers would again be available in the city depots.

MECHANISED COLUMN

SOUTH AUCKLAND TOUR STIMULUS TO RECRUITING BREN CARRIERS ON DISPLAY [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] ; 1 PAEROA, Friday With the primary object of giving an impetus to the recruiting movement for the. territorial forces; the A Squadron, 4th Mounted Rifles Composite Regiment (Motorised), will visit Paeroa on Thursday during the course of a tour of the district.

The squadron will go into camp at Cambridge to-morrow before commencthe /tour. The route next week will be from Rotorua to Tauranga, Waihi and Paeroa, where the squadron will arrive at 3 p.m. Demonstrations with the two Bren armoured carriers will follow and the Bren guns, one of the most modern arms used in the British Army; will hi on display. The' motorised squadron is commanded by Major D. H. C. Wilson; It comprises 100 men, equipped withj 30 motor-cycles and 26 other' vehicles; including miniature tanks armed with Bren and Tickers guns. . > : j