AIR FORCE BAND

Waikato Times, Volume 130, Issue 21688, 26 March 1942, Page 6

AIR FORCE BAND

IMPRESSIVE PARADE “BONDS FOR BOMBERS” FIRST A.T.C. APPEARANCE “Your money will be spent wisely if you buy bonds for bombers,” said Mr H. D. Caro, Mayor of Hamilton, today when addressing the large crowd witnessing the parade of the Band of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, members of the Air Training Corps, and the Women’s Auxiliary Volunteer Corps. “Tonight the totals will be announced for all the towns in New Zealand, and I hope Hamilton will lead the way,” added Mr Caro. With arms swinging and heads erect the parade, led by the band, swung into Victoria Street from Knox Street and proceeded toward the post office. With Wing Commander G. E. Nichols, Dominion Commandant of the Air Training Corps, taking the salute at the Chief Post Office, the parade passed on to London Street, where it wheeled and returned to the post office. Accompanying Wing Commander Nichols were Squadron-Leader W. R. Bloomfield, North Island Divisional Commander of the Air Training Corps, Flight-Lieutenant Gladstone Hill, Director of Music, R.N.Z.A.F., in charge of the band, and FlyingOfficer E. Wilson, of the Air Training Corps. Wing Commander Nichols in a brief address said that this, the first parade of the Hamilton unit of the Air Training Corps, was “a very good show.” He made an appeal for recruits for the A.T.C., and said the training the boys received provided for the future of the Air Force. Flight-Lieutenant Hill mentioned that the parade of the Women’s Auxiliary Volunteer Corps was the best effort he had yet seen in New Zealand. After the band had played “Sons of the Brave” the parade once again moved off toward Knox Street, where it dispersed.