STIRRING MARCH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23545, 4 January 1940, Page 9

STIRRING MARCH

LONG COLUMN OF KHAKI GREETINGS ALL THE WAY SALUTE AT TOWN HALL Along a route just on two and a-half, miles long Aucklanders gathered to pay a warm-hearted and sincere tribute to* the men of the first echelon on their march through the city yesterday. All the way from the Domain, along Park Road, Grafton Bridge, Karangahape Road, Queen Street, Customs Street and Beach Road the crowds had gathered and greeted every section of tho parade with round upon round of cheers. The march afforded relatives, friends and the public in general a more intimate opportunity to farewell the troops than at the ceremonial parade at the Domain. All seemed to regard the men for the occasion as their own boys and hailed them with an affection which was a moving proof of the public's realisation of tlieir sclf-saeri-iiee. Over 80,000 Spectators The crowd was seldom less than three deep on both sides of the street, and in many places, such as at the top of Queen Street, people filled all the space from the middle of the road to the shop fronts. In addition, every window in buildings along the route was filled with spectators, and verandahs and roofs also held their quota. It was estimated that considerably over 80,000 people watched the march. The parade moved off from tho Domain shortly before mid-day. Four mounted police rode at its head to clear a way through the crowds and the men were led by Lieutenant-Colonel G. B. Parkinson, who commanded the parade Sisters and nurses of the Auckland Hospital staff formed a guard of honour on both sides of Park .Road opposite the entrance to the Nurses' Home. They gave a rousing send-off to the three nursing sisters who will serve overseas with the first echelon. As the motor-car in which they rode in front of the parade drew level it was surrounded by sisters desirous of shaking hands with their military colleagues. Crowd Takes Up Refrain

Cheers alternated with hand-clapping all aloiVg the route as the column swung on at a brisk pace. There was a rousing response whenever someone in the crowd called for three cheers. At Grafton Bridge a woman began to sing-".Pack Up Your Troubles" and soon the croud for several chains joined in the refrain. Public buildings for the full length of Queen .Street Hew flags, but tlicre were no elaborate displays of bunting. Nor was there any general carrying of flags bv the crowds, although a few were evident at intervals among the spectators, The salute was taken at the Town Hall by the officer commanding the northern military district, Colonel N\ W. McD. Weir, and the Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis. With them on the official dais was the Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, and others who had been at the saluting base at the Domain parade, and also the chairman of the Auckland Harbour Hoard, Mr. W. 13. Darlow. Business at Standstill

All business stopped in Queen Street while the parade passed. Shops were emptied and the, stall's crowded the doorways to catch a glimpse of the troops. Many brought chairs out into the street and stood on them to see over the heads of people in front. The head of the parade had almost reached Customs Street before the last men appeared at the top of Upper Queen Street. The long column of khaki extending up the hill as far as the eye could see made an inspiring picture. It took the parade a quarter of an hour to pass a given spot. Relatives and friends were not- allowed on tbe railway station to watch the troops entrain. The departure was performed with a maximum of efficiency. The first train left for Ngaruawabia at 1.15 p.m. within a' few minutes of the arrival of the head of the column at the railway station, and the other two'trains for Papakura had left within half an hour.