ROYAL VISITOR

Waikato Times, Volume 130, Issue 21737, 25 May 1942, Page 4

ROYAL VISITOR

NEW ZEALAND FORCES INSPECTION BY DUKE SYRIAN MOUNTAIN SCENE Official War Correspondent. N.Z.E.F.) CAIRO, May 24 In a green valley on the slopes of mountain ranges in Syria the Duke of Gloucester on May 20 saw thousands of troops of the New Zealand Division. Travelling over 100 mile.-, many of them across a road rougher than a New Zealand back country road, the Duke inspected our troops parade and saw the defences they have built in weeks of hard digging. Warned by the scream of a siren sounding through the hills ahead of the Duke's convoy of staff cars, little groups of New Zealanders who were unable to attend the main parades, presented arms and saluted as the Royal party passed. Inspection of Hospital The progress of the Royal tour began early in the morning and ended in the evening with an entertainment by the Second N.Z.E.F. Kiwi concert party. Beneath British. American and Red Cross flags flying above a New Zealand casualty clearing station the Duke of Gloucester, accompanied by the Commander of the Ninth Army. General Wilson, met General Freybcrg. Later he inspected the modern wards and theatres of the hospital, which was built by United States citizens formerly resident in the picturesque mountain village which it overlooks. In the sunlit courtyard where our convalescent troops were sitting the Duke met American field serving personnel working as an ambulance unit with the New Zealanders. At an aerodrome where the New Zealand Divisional Provosts company took over the duties of guiding and escorting the party, the Duke passed through lines of R.A.A.F. and Free Frenco guards. Lined up before the three-storeyed barrack building a guard of New Zealand signallers and defence platoon personnel presented the Royal Salute as the party entered the divisional headquarters, where the Duke lunched with General Freyberg and his senior officers. By late afternoon the Duke had seen the majority of the troops of the division and had climbed high into the ranges to view the defensive scheme. The first parade, commanded by a brigadier, stretched in deep formation for 400 yards along the roadside. Hundreds of bayonets flashed in the sunlight as the New Zealanders, Indian mountain gunners and Cypriot muleteers gave the Royal Salute. A seemingly endless line of troops in topees and turbans marched down the valley past the saluting base.

Unable to form in a normal formation because of the broken, hilly country they occupy, the second parade of troops under a brigadier

made a spectacular march past a saluting base set on the lower slopes ‘»1 the mountain range. Marching New Zealand troops, Indian Service Corps personnel on horseback or leading mule teams, New Zealand artillery, anli-aircral't and anti-tank guns and Bren carriers filed past in a long procession. Gun commanders and carrier crews stood erect in their vehicles to give the salute.

From the crest of a slope behind the parade the Duke saw a panorama of the country which the New Zealand troops occupy and heard an explanation by General Freybcrg of the defences. After tea with the New Zealand Divisional Cavalry he was conducted over the famous ruins of Baalbeck. The long day ended with the Kiwi concert party’s programme in the New Zealand barrack hall.