Victory Pageant

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23281, 17 August 1945, Page 4

Victory Pageant

Colour And Gaiety Huge Crowd Rejoices TIMARU entered wholeheartedly into the peace celebrations yesterday and honoured the occasion fittingly with a monster and spectacular procession. Decorated floats, representative of practically every interest in town, took part, also the schools and almost every district organisation. The procession itself ran the gamut of display, colour, spectacle and high spirits, combining by contrast to give more meaning and dignity to the war units which took part. Timaru was in town for the day, and long before the scheduled time of starting cars, cyclists and pedestrians streamed toward the various vantage points overlooking the route of the procession. From North Street to King George’s Place the footpaths were crowded with people who appeared to be excited and happy as they watched the victory pageant unfold itself.

Headed by a Fire Brigade tender’ and the massed bands, the procession moved off promptly at 2.30 from Stafford Street South, Woollcombe and North Streets. Mr C. H. Shackell, as marshal, had the foot sections, bands and vehicular sections well spaced and the parade was a splendid sight as it proceeded through the town, turning off Stafford Street at Canon Street to halt in King George’s Place, where the marchers assembled while the floats were diverted to Perth Street, the overflow' remaining in Sophia. Street. Seven bands attempted to keep the marchers in step, but it is doubtful whether they were heard above the pandemonium of the revellers in the parade. The Mayor (Mr A. E. S. Hanan) and councillors led the marchers. Then came the first section of the South Canterbury Returned Services’ Association, with whom were South African veterans, headed by the president (Mr A. Bell). Side by side with the Old Brigade marched returned men of this war, some still in uniform, a nursing sister and one naval representative. Sisters and nurses from the Timaru Public Hospital followed, their position between the R.S.A. and the Homeservicemen’s Association being taken as a tribute to their unostentatious war effort. After the Homeservicemen came representatives of the W.W.S.A., then the schoolchildren, the younger of whom left the parade in Sophia Street and joined the onlookers. Pupils from the secondary schools continued to King George’s Place. Bands—Timaru Municipal, Harmonica, Boys’ High School, Highland Pipe, Salvation Army and Waimataitai School—were placed at intervals in the procession but their music was not often heard above the general hilarity. Ingenuity was the outstanding feature of the vehicular section, many groups giving vent to their patriotism, their real opinion of Hitler and his Axis partners in crime or just the joy of the occasion. Decorated Vehicles “Semple-minded railwaymen manned the “To Tokio Express,” and one party gave their version of the United Nations Conferences—telephones were the main impedimenta of the pseudo conference room and the dignatories ate apples during the halt. A flag captured by New Zealand forces on Mono Island was proudly displayed on a lorry, and another bore the legend “we’ve taken the nip out of Nippon,” one of the Borough Council’s older omnibuses made a brave showing covered with yards of red. w'hite and blue, and a lorry-load of V.A.D.’s were greeted with applause. Another crowd on a large truck, representative of the peoples of the Allied Nations, had a replica of Hitler hanging ignominously. Even “Dobbin” took his place in the parade, pulling a humble milk float. Red Cross transport drivers, conveying invalid servicemen, headed the battalion of decorated private cars. Members of the Chinese community joined the parade. No procession is complete without humour—ancient cars provided many laughs as they made their precarious way through the crowds, and one-wheel cyclists were still a wonder. Comic costumes complete with false faces and fancy hats were worn by the dozens of children and adults who rode decorated cycles and by the jubilant groups on lorries. No one minded when Little Bo Peep disappeared into a hotel, presumably to search for his sheep. Pianos were mounted on several trucks, with or without musical accompaniments. Most of those taking part in the procession succeeded in making a great deal of noise.

“We’re having fun—are you?” asked a streamer flying from a crowded vehicle. The high spirits prevailing answered “Yes.”

Services Acknowledged In his tribute to the King and Queen, the Mayor (Mr A. E. S. Hanan), in a short address at King George’s Place, said they had endeared themselves to the heart of the Empire by their unflinching loyalty to duty. In London they had stayed with their people and shared their grief and sorrow in the dark days of the blitz. Badges bearing the photograph of Mr

Churchill would be on sale, and the Mayor asked the people to wear them as a tribute to that stout-hearted gentleman. A word of praise was due to all the organisations which had worked so hard and enthusiastically during the long war years, said the Mayor. It was something to be proud of that the workers of Timaru had not lost a minute during the war owing to industrial disputes. New Zealand soldiers had won imperishable fame by the valour of their deeds on many battlefields. To each Timaru serviceman returning was given a card on behalf of citizens thanking them for their duty so nobly done and assuring them of their co-operation in rehabilitating them into civilian life. The Mayor reminded his listeners of that promise. “To-day we have marched together in victory. In the future let us march together in unity with peace as our aim.” The Mayor commended the work of the chairman of the Celebrations Committee (Mr C. E. Thomson) and that of the marshal of the procession (Mr C. H. Shackell). Three cheers were given for the King and Queen, Mr Churchill, our Allies and the New Zealand Forces. Under the leadership of Mr Alan Shrimpton, assisted by members of the Timaru Savage Club, community singing was then enjoyed by the large gathering, saxophone items by Mr H. Macdonald enhancing the proceedings. Churchill badges, which were sold in aid of the Patriotic Fund, met with a ready sale, and several thousand were purchased by the public. Marshal’s Comment “I was most pleased with the procession. Everybody was on deck and there was not a hitch in the whole of the proceedings,” said Mr C. H. Shackell, marshal of the procession. "From the start of the procession," continued Mr Shackell, “everything was under control and I must pay a tribute to the good humour of the crowd. Few people realise the time and trouble necessary to prepare lorries, and the tradesmen who were able to turn out decorated floats at such short notice deserve credit. The colour and gaiety of the procession was in large part due to these vehicles." It was one of the longest processions ever seen in Timaru. It took 30 minutes to pass a given point, and was .about 11 miles in length. From 1500 to 2000 people marched in the procession; there were also 70 decorated lorries crowded with gay folk. Appreciation of the good work of the marshal was shown by the nurses, who heartily applauded Mr Shackell at the end of the ceremony. Then the nurses started an impromptu dance and the Municipal Band came to their aid by playing appropriate music. Evening Festivities Citizens turned out in their hundreds again last night for the torchlight procession and victory bonfire. Many of those in fancy costume and some of the decorated vehicles from the afternoon parade joined the band of torchbearers who marched through Stafford Street from King George’s Place to Caroline Bay, where the bonfire was lit by the Mayor Prepared at short notice by Boy Scouts under the direction of the District Commissioner (Mr C. H. Shackell) the bonfire comprised 15 loads of scrub and two lorry loads of tow from the Washdyke Linen Flax factory. Although not so elaborately finished as the one built by the Scouts for V-E Day it provided a spectacular blaze and rounded off the day’s entertainment. Brilliant and' beautifully coloured rockets lit up the beach to show a large crowd assembled around the bonfire. Accompanied by the band they were singing enthusiastically if not tunefully. One of the ships in port sent up rockets and sounded the V signal with her siren. One of the largest crowds seen there for a long time lined the railings at the top of the Bay and occupied every vantage point on the steps and down to the sands. While the bonfire lasted they were reluctant to leave, and even when they began to disperse fresh arrivals took their - places. Dances in the town were well patronised and revellers were abroad until a late hour.