DISPLAY IS TO BE MADE BY REGIMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 183, 4 August 1931, Page 7

DISPLAY IS TO BE MADE BY REGIMENT.

ARMS, TROPHIES AND UNIFORMS ON VIEW. In an endeavour to stimulate recruiting in Christchurch, the Regimental Association of the Canterbury Regiment has arranged a window display of uniforms, arms, equipment, trophies, photographs and Colours. The display will be made in a show window at the premises of Beath and Co., and will be commenced to-morrow.

The display is a comprehensive one, and, in some respects forms an epitome of the history of the regiment. It will include the regimental Colour on which are emblazoned all the battle honours of the regiment, and the King’s Colour will also be displayed.

Arms Section. Included in the arms section is a Vickers machine-gun, a Lewis gun and an anti-aircraft Lewis gun equipped with the latest sights and stand. Heliographs and night signalling lamps will illustrate the work of the signalling section, and there will be displayed a range-finder used by the machinegun company. A service steel helmet and a service gas mask will be included in this section. In addition to the ordinary uniform, the full dress uniform is being shown, complete with equipment. In the trophies section there are about thirty cups and other prizes which are competed for in the regimental competitions. A number of these trophies date back to the old volunteer days, having been handed down when the Territorial system replaced the volunteer system. Historical Records. The photographs are particularly interesting from the historical point of view. Included among them are pictures of the regimental commanders, groups of officers, and so forth. They are grouped round a large photograph of his Majesty the King, who is colonel-in-chief of the regiment, a distinction which the Canterbury Regiment enjoys by virtue of its seniority among the regiments of New Zealand. The Canterbury Regiment has set out to recruit a strength of thirty officers and 530 other ranks. Of that number 220 have been already attested. When the former training scheme was suspended a year ago the whole of the officers and a majority of the noncommissioned officers decided to continue their service, and these are now available for the re-formed force. The majority of the officers have seen war service and constitute a thoroughly trained and efficient body. Recruiting Satisfactory. On two occasions during the display the band of the regiment will play on the balcony of Beath and Co.’s premises —on Fridav evening next and Monday evening. The band has a full strength of forty members, and will be seen in its full dress uniform, which has been adapted from the Royal West Kent regiment, with which the Canterbury regiment is allied. Recruiting in Christchurch has been satisfactory. So far as the infantry is concerned it has been somewhat ahead of the other centres, while, in other branches of the service it has been about on a par.