SECOND ECHELON PARADES IN WELLINGTON

Camp News, Volume 1, Issue 21, 3 May 1940, Page 5

SECOND ECHELON PARADES IN WELLINGTON

jeering Thousands Line City Streets ! ■ MEN ADDRESSED IN GROUNDS OF J PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS H Tens of thousands of people lined the city streets, as many ' s six deep on sections of the route, to applaud 1900 of all ranks •f the second echelon of the Second N.Z.E.F., whose official parade Cas held in Wellington on Saturday morning: The public gatherig was larger than that which saw the parade of the first echelon. >'or an hour before the men were due to assemble in Parliament •rounds thousands of people flocked into the city. Though there [■re days at holiday periods where there are extra large concentra*ons of traffic and pedestrians, the invasion of the city on Saturay was all within the space of little more than an-hour, in conast to other times, when it is spread over a whole day . and night. With the vast crowds of Anzac Day only two days previously, and Saturday’s equally large gatheringpit was a notable week in the , 'story of Wellington, and an eloquent tribute to those who either aught for their country in the Great War or are about to do so bxv. a)W. ■ In his address to the troops the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, ' ■sured them that their interests would not be neglected; their pendents would be cared for and they themselves, on their return, v Suld be reabsorbed into the community in a manner befitting the ™sks they were undertaking and the sacrifices they were making, efft

, troops were also addressed by • overnor-General, Lord Galway. Header of the Opposition, Mr Hams''the mayor of Wellington. Mr >, and Captain A. E. Jackson, president of the Australian Capi srritory branch of the Returned rs and Sailors’ League of Aus •nand deputy-leader of, the Australegation of ex-servicemen to New -d on the occasion of the twenty- • ini versa ry of Anzac Day. ii is, offices, and business houses gsed fully to the mayor’s appeal . their staffs the opportunity of ' ;ing the parade. f . the addresses a prayer was r J the Moderator of the Welling-. , o fSbytery, the Rev. A. B. Kilroy nost of the period occupied by s dresses, the men had to stand rain, without greatcoats and usheet capes, but they stood imi with true, soldierly bearing • in ceased almost simultaneously flieie end of the addresses, and fot ul irch through the city, the sun 181 American custom of throwing infers seemed to have taken hold jj], people of Wellington, , and the ig troops were bombarded with ers and confetti. Toward the the march there was an intouch, as some collected ribgD'id streamers from the applaudp nrsands, while others mounted "New Zealand flags on their rifles. j r .r the speeches, and in the preof the commander of their ship, Governor-General decorated one 4 and three petty officers of . Achilles, who were among those Rendered conspicuous service in :i} ccessful action with the Admiral

Graf Spee off the River Plate. His Excellency warmly congratulated the recipients and wished them long life, .that they might enjoy the well-merited recognition of their service. Those invested were: Surgeon-Lieutenant C. G. ' Hunter, with the Distinguished Service Cross, and Chief Petty-Officer W. G. Boniface, Petty-Officer W. R.. Hadon. and Petty-Officer A. Maycock, with the Distinguished Service Medal. It was not the first time that Wellington citizens had had the opportunity of applauding the men of. the Achilles for their part in this stirring naval en gagement, but the decoration of these officers was the signal for a great demonstration. The officer commanding the parade was Colonel J. Hargest, D. 5.0., M.C.. V.D., and there were three group commanders, Lieut.-Colonel A. C. McKillop (19th Battalion, 27th Machine-Gun Battalion, 4-sth Army Transport Companies, First General Hospital and First Convalescent Depot) ; Lieut.-Col oriel L. W. Andrew, V.C. (22nd (Wellington) Rifle Battalion), and Major G. M. McCaskill (Divisional Headquarters, Headquarters, Fifth and Sixth Infantry Brigades, Divisional Signals, Divisional Petrol Company. Fourth Reserve Motor Transport Company, Divisional Provost Company. .Divisional Postal Unit, Base Post Office, Base Pay Office, Overseas Base. Base Depot and Second Echelon Band). The groups were led by the Echelon Band, Pipes and Drums of the First Battalion (Wellington Regiment), and Artillery Band. Nurses of the First General Hospital. and a naval detachment, also paraded and were enthusiastically ap [•lauded by the crowds. The route of march was lined by re turned soldiers, territorials and cadets