TROOPS DEPART

Camp News, Volume 1, Issue 24, 24 May 1940, Page 5

TROOPS DEPART

■ ■ —— Draft For Papakura MARCH IN WELLINGTON About 100 recruits for the third echelon inarched through Wellington on the 15th, from the drill hall by way of the main streets to the railway station, to entrain for Papakura Camp, Auckland. The draft formed up in the drill halt at about two o’clock. About half wore uniform, the rest mufti with a red-and-white armband marked with a crown, to distinguish them from civilians on the railway stations and elsewhere along their route. There were several Maoris, reinforcements for the Maori Battalion; the remainder were recruits for the anti-tank regiment and the field artillery. A crowd had assembled in Buckle Street, and the draft was given a good reception as it followed the band down Taranaki Street and Vivian Street. In Cuba Street the crowds along the way increased in numbers; shop girls and office workers streamed out to line the pavements -as the military music heralded the approach of the march ing men. Those in uniform, feeling perhaps something of the inspiration of the service to which they now belong, marched smartly, but the men in mufti showed an inclination to straggle, and an occasional uncertainty in keeping step However, the parade was an impressive one, and its significance was not lost to the spectators along the route, whogave the men a stirring send-off. The crowds were densest at th? junction of Lambton Quay and Willis . Street, where the draft was given a rousing cheer. The majority of friends and relatives • of the recruits, as well as a large bod.) of the general public,' awaited their arrival at the railway station. The steps were crowded, and as the soldiers marched through a narrow lane between the onlookers into the - crowded concourse, they exchanged greetings, handshakes, and even kisses, with friends who had come to say good-bye. Though the public were excluded from the troop-train platform, they lined the i neighbouring one, and many of the soldiers, on falling out, climbed down on to the tracks to exchange final greet ' ings. After the train backed in to the plat 1 form, and another local train took up its position on the next set of tracks soldiers in the troop train were. able to • chat' from their windows to friend--1 who had swarmed aboard the suburban ; carriages. Hot due to depart till some - time later. ? There was a slight wait while the • baggage of the draft was loaded, and i then, with a final whistle, waving of ' hands and cheery shouts from plat--1 forms and windows, the men set out : on the first stage of the adventure they have undertaken.