PARADE OF VOLUNTEERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2728, 27 June 1906, Page 28

PARADE OF VOLUNTEERS.

As the late Premier occupied the position of Minister of Defence, it was particularly fitting that the memorial services should be of a military charact&r, and that the Volunteer Forces should take a prominent part in the expression of publio mourning for his death The officer com iraanding- the district (Colonel Robin), fully realising that it was essential the Volunteers should give tangible expression to Ihe regret felt in all departments of the service, took active and energetic measures to ensure that the occasion should be fully recognised by the military authorities. As a result of this, the turnout of Volunteers en Thursday was quite equal to, if not actually beyond, anything of the kind that !ha& been scon in Dunedin previously. The |iarade ■"•as conducted in a manner that reflected the -utmost credit upon all who

participated in its arrangement. As a military spectacle it was more than usually impressive, not merely on account of the numbers taking part in the parade, but owing to the strong evidence there was in the ranks that the men appreciated to the .full the cause of their being called together. It is not usual when Volunteers are on parade that 6trict silence is observed ; but yesterday it was conspicuously noticeable that both officers and men maintained a soldierly silence quite in accord with the occasion. The public, realising that the Volunteer parade would be the principal feature from a srectacular point of view of the afternoon's proceedings, found their v.ay to various points of vantage in large numbers, even i-efore the troope got into motion. In the vicinity of the Triangle, the- point at which the Volunteers assembled, there were many thousands of persons, an<) at tta-e Octagon, where the battalions divided in order «to attend the •various church services, there na; an immense concourse. In fact, in all the main thoroughfares of the city along which the troops were to march crowds had congregated. Eaeb separate body of Volunteers attending the services was followed to th< church by very large numbers of citizens — so large that there was not the slightest prospect of them all finding sitting or even standing room inside the respective buildings. The' streets continued to present this crowded appearance throughout the greater part of tbe afternoon and up to the time the Volunteers were, dismissed, when the people gradually dispersed in the direction of their homes. Although the streets were co crowded, a respectful quiet befitting the occasion prevailed amongst the spectators. The garrison troops of the city, with the School Cadets, to tbe total number of 1866, were massed in brigade formation in Cumberland street, between the Triangle and railway .-.tation. the formation of ihc brigade being- battalions in line of company columns. It was observed that the officers u-ore mourning and that the drums of the various bands were draped in black and muffled. The right battalion, or No. 1. called brigade troops, headed the parade-, and consisted of the Garrison Band, R.N.Z.A.. R.N.Z E., under Lieutenant Gardner, and No, 2 Company N.Z.G. (A) A.V. under Lieutenant Doull, N.Z G. (B) A.V.. under Lieutenant Cooke. Then came the B Battery N.Z.G. A.V. . under Captain Ritchie; No. 2 Company N.Z.E.V., under Captain Ross ; the Otago Hussars, under Captain Freeman: and the N.Z. Field Hospital and Eoaivr Corps, under Captainsurgeon Evans The whole of this battalion was under .the command of .Major Strong, with Captain Frediic second in command. 'Captain Swindlcy adjutant and reg-. sergfeanfc, Majov Parker brigade troop c-ergeant-major. The No. 2 Battalion was the First Riflo Battalion 0.R.V., and con*istad of the Navals Band. City Guards, under Captain Crawford ; Xorth Dune din Rifles, under Captain Johnston ; Highland. Riflee, under Captain Dempster: City Rifles, under Captain M'Ara; Dnnedin Rifles, under Captain Birch ; Wakari Rifles, under Captain Washer ; the Gavereham Rifles, under Cr.p-ta-in Bremner; and -the Cycle Corps, uncW Lietenant Wolfstenfcolm, the whole battalion being under t)ie command of Lieu-tenant-colonel Stoneham, -with Captain Bar clay as adjutant. No 3 Battalion, which came next, consisted of the Citizens' Band, the High School Cadels (Nos. 1 and 2, under Captain M'Culouah and Captain Fuliarton). the Engineer Cadets, Christian Brothers Cadete (under Captain Hussey), the Caversham and the Waikari Cadets, the whole battalion being in charge ol Major Chalmer and staff. No. 4 Battalion was "headed by the Kaikorai Band, and consisted of Xo\ 1 Public School Cadets, comprising the cadets from Union. Albany. Goorg-e Street Schools, from the North-East Valley and Ravensbourne, the whole being under the command of Major D. Murray and staff. No. 5 Battalion, in which was included tho Diinedin Pip" Band, consisted of No. 2 Battalion Public School Cadets, the schools '^presented being Normal, High Street, Morn'iigton. and Arthur Street ; Major Smith, with staff, in command. No. 6 Battalion, at the head of which was the Morning-ton Band, was composed of No 3 Battalion Publio School CadcU. and included cadets from Kensington, Caversham. Forbury. and Macandrew Road Schools ; Major Macdonald in command. At 2 o'clock punctually Colonel Robin, with his staff, consisting of Major Hislop, Captain M'lndoe, Lieutenant-colonel Smith, Lieutenant-colonel Myers. Lieut-enaxit-colonel do Lautour, Major Real, and Lieutenant Allen, took command of the brigade, and the whole marched off to attend the memorial services at the various churches. The brigade moved off in column to the right in fours in succession of rvsmpanie-? from tho right of battalion. The route was along; Cumberland street, wheeling into Stuart street, and up to the Octapon, thousands following and swelling the immfn^ concourse of people already in the vicinity of the Octagon. Hero th-3 brijrade troops desiened to attend the memorial service at St. Matthew's Church marched off, headed by the band, along Princes street. No. 2 and No. 3 Battalions wheeled into Moray place and proceded to First Church, the remaining battalions, Nos. 4, 5, and 6, going north by way of Georeo street to attend the service at Knox Church. In every instance the troops were accompanied by crowds of people, the greater portion of which, not being- able to find room in the churches, waited outside until the services were concluded and the troops again assembled outside. All the bands were ordered to commence nlavingr a dead march when within 300 yards of the church to which they were going, and there was no quickstep music played at all, the only thing that could be heard to assist the marching being the subdued tap of the kettledrum, the result being that the solemnity of th» proceedings was much intensified. At Moray place every facility was offered those Volunteers who wished to attend the service at St. Joseph's to do co, and a number dropped out of the ranks. At the conclusion of th© services, which were all of an impressive nature, the battalions formed up and marched back to their respective parades and were dismissed. The following is the parade state: — In command, Colonel Robin, CB. commanding Otago Militia and Volunteer district Staff: Major HisJop. Captain M'lndoe. Tiieuten ant-colonel Smith, Ueutenant-colonel Myers, Lieutenant-colonel dc Lautour. Major Beal, and Lieutenant Allen No. 1 Battalion (brigade trcops^ Maior Strong (in command), Captain Swindley (adjui tant);— total staff, 6b

R.N.Z.A. and R.N.Z.E.: 1 officer, 43 rank and fiie; —tota-l 44. No. 2 and 3 Companies Garrison Artillery Volunteers: 4 officers, 121 rank and file; — total, 125. Otago Hussars: 4 officers, 24 rank and file; — total 28. B Battery N.Z.F.A.: 5 officers, 57 rank and file;—total 62. No. 2 Company N.Z.E.V.: 5 officers, 48 rank and file;-total 53. No. 2 Company F.H. and Bearer Corps: 1 officer, 28 rani and file; —total, 29. Garrison Band: 1 officer, 29 rank and file; total, 30. iS'o. 2 Battalion O.R. Volunteers- Lieu-tenant-colonel Stoneham (in command) Captain Barclay (adjutant); —total staff, 6. First Battalion O.R Volunteers (seven companies): 16 officers, 218 rank and file;—total, 234. Cycle and Signalling Coips: 1 officer, 23 rank and file:—total 24. Dunedin Naval Band: 30 bandsmen. No. 3 Battalion D-efence Cadpis Major Chalmer (in command), Captain Morris (adjutant). No. 1 Company Dunedin High School Cadets- 2 officers, 54 cadets;—total, 56. Xo. 2 Company Dunedin High School Cadets- 3 officers, 48 cadets;—total. 51. No. 3 Company Dunedin High School Cadets- 3 officers, 49 cadets ;—total. 52. Dunedm Engineer Cadets- 3 officers, 42 cadets ; —total. 45. Caversham Cadets: 2 officers, 39 cadets; — total 41. Christian Brothers Cadets: 3 officers, 41 cadets; —total, 44. Citizens' Band: 32 bandsmen. Fourth Battalion, No. 1 Battalion Public School Cadets: 14 officers, 260 cadets ;—total, 274. Kaikorai Band: 31 bandsmen. Fifth Battalion, Xo. 2 Battalion Public School Cadets: 10 officers, 205 cadets,—total, •215. Pipe Band: 20 pipers. Sixth Battalion, Xo. 3 Battalion Public School Cadets: 6 officers, IS9 cadets, —total. 195. Mornington Band: 27 bandsmen. Grand total on parade, 1866. The detailed numbers of the various companies in No. 2 Battalion O.R.V. on parade were not available last evening. Information received by Colonel Robin from various sub-centres last evening showed that in 20 country towns a total of 2023 officers and men were on parade yesterday. Information from three other centres has yet to come in. and with these additions there is every likelihood of the total number on parade yesterday throughout Otago (including Dunedin) exceeding *000.