ROYAL VISITOR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24896, 21 April 1942, Page 4

ROYAL VISITOR

NEW ZEALAND BASE CAMP DUKE OF GLOUCESTER'S TOUR (N.Z.E.F. Official News Service) CAIRO, Apl. 19. A display by men who, stripped to the waist, charged an imaginary enemy in a rugged bayonet assault, under a blazing morning sun and a hectic firefighting demonstration were among the features of many phases of training witnessed by the Duke of Gloucester when he visited the New Zealand base camp at Maadi to-day. The Duke, who was accompanied by General Stone, G.O.C. British troops in Egypt, spent the whole morning in camp. After receiving the royal salute, the Duke inspected a guard of honour of stalwart men. from the Maori training company, who later marched past to the strains of music from the base band. The senior officers were then presented by the camp commandant. Brigadier A. S. Falconer.

His Royal Highness attended Divine service, during which a Maori choir of over 100 voices sang in Maori the beautiful hymn "My Redeemer." The Duke took the salute afterwards as the soldiers marched past, looking fit and already deeply browned by the recent fierce sun.

Dinners were being cooked in improvised field ovens when the Duke visited the cookery school. Simply constructed of empty petrol drums, this type of oven has been extensively used since before the desert campaign.

The popular Lowry Hut was well filled with soldiers when it was visited by the Duke. His Royal Highness was shown through by Mrs A. P. F. Chapman, by whom the hut is conducted. A short stay was made there for morning tea. Training was continued in full swing at the School of Instruction during the Duke's visit. Squads marched up and down the parade ground, lectures were being given in the huts, and men were toiling through a rigorous test in n bayonet assault course. The Duke watched these proceedings. The mysteries of pie production were explained to the Duke at a pie factory where he examined the spotlessly clean machinery. Outside the factory loaves of bread by the thousand were being tossed out of great ovens. Excitement ran high among the native workers when the alarm was sounded for a demonstration of the fire system. They flung buckets of water over the building themselves with rare abandon until the arrival of fire engines. A guard of honour was again provided by the Maoris as the Duke took his departure from the camp. Late in the afternoon his Royal Highness arrived at the New Zealand Club, surprising hundreds of troops by walking through the building. He shook hands and spoke to a tall genial Australian private, who had saluted smartly and greeted him as he passed. After tea he made a thorough tour of the club facilities.