MASS ASSEMBLY OF TROOPS

Camp News, Volume 2, Issue 98, 14 November 1941, Page 3

MASS ASSEMBLY OF TROOPS

Ceremonial Parade

VICE-REGAL VISIT TO TRENTHAM

cellency said that it was a really magnificent parade; absolutely first class. Knowing how long the troops taking part had been in camp, what they had accomplished after such a short period was very good.

Troops who were good on ceremonial parade, were good at anything,’ and New Zealand should feel confident in placing her good name in the hands of the men on parade that day. Theii comrades in Greece and Crete had set a standard as high as’any troops in the world. They were up against a ruthless, tough and efficient enemy, but, added his Excellency, “man foi man he is not as good as you are.”

“A really magnificent parade; absolutely first-class.” This was the tribute of the Governor-General, Sir Cyril Newall, to the men who took part in a ceremonial parade yesterday on the occasion of his inspection of Trentham mobilization camp and the Army School. Drawn up on the racecourse centre, with fixed bayonets reflecting the sun as they were , brought to the shouldei and then to present-arms position for the Royal Salute, this mass assembly of the troops of the Second N.Z.E.F. in training at Trentham was a splendid scene. .

His Excellency, with Major-Genera, Put tick and the official party, then visited the camp hospital where thej were met by the senior medical officei Lieut.-Colonel F. W. Kemp, M.C., E.D., and Sister M. Mahoney, sister in charge. Lunch was taken in the No. 2 Expeditionary Force officers’ mess.

After lunch bis Excellency, Major General Put tick and’ party inspected troops in training—engineers (Captain R. F. Bale ami Lieut. It. Kennedy) Army Service Gorps units (Captain A. A. Wallace), Major Gorton, bat talioir commander reconnaissance bat talion (Captain Mac Ewan), Bren carrier units / (Captain N. Comrit Smith), Vickers machinegun units (Captain J. B. C. Geere-Watson) mander; artillery (Major Pollard I weapon training (Captain. T. J Cronin); special training cadre for n.c.o.'s (Lieut. Free) ; physical, recrea tional and bayonet training (Captain R. G. Thomson); medical training depot (Major A. M. Young).

A highlight of the ceremonial was the advance in review order — a line of troops 400 yards long and 45 yards in depth, The parade was drawn up in battalions, the march past being in column formation, on an average of 15 men to a line, in sections (ordnance and engineers), troops (reconnaissance and artillery) and platoons (infantry). It took 20 minutes for the full parade to pass the saluting dais from which his Excellency took the salute. His Excellency was met at the camp by the Adjutant-General, Colonel A. E. Conway, N.Z.S.C. and at the base of the saluting dais by the Chief of the General Staff, Major-General E Put tick, D. 5.0., Colonel K. L. Stewart. 0.8. E., and Lieutenant-Colonel 11. D McHugh, M.C., camp commandant. His Excellency was accompanied by Cap tain G. 11. Helmore, Military aide-de camp.

The Army School was visited, where his Excellency inspected the officers’ cadre training unit under Captain G F. McCulloch, M.B.E. The Royai Salute was given and his Excellency addressed the members of the cadre Following afternoon tea at the Army School mess, his Excellency inspected the following camp institutes; Church Army (Mr. L. D. Bestall); Catholic (Rev. J. C. Pierce, C.F. ) ; Salvation Army (Captain A. F. Chandler) . Y.M.C.A. (Mr. A. J. Daysh) ; Every man’s Hut (Mr. L. Taylor).

The Royal Salute was given on his arrival, the parade presenting arms with fixed bayonets while the Trentham Camp Band, under Captain C. Pike played the National Anthem. The march past then took place, a fine military display with the bearing and marching good. With no sound of feet meeting the ground to guide the troops in keeping time, a march past on a grass surface is a movement which re quires the concentration of every man on parade. The men on this occasion marched and swung their arms as one The band, which carried out a minor movement in taking up its position to play for the march past, proved that it could put on as good v a display as an.\ unit.

The officer commanding the parade, who was later congratulated by his Excellency, was Lieut.-Col. R. Bagnall, with Captain A. J. Kerse as brigade major. The battalion com manders in the march past and on parade were Major W. Pollard, artillery, Major A. E. Gorton, M.M., engineers and army service corps, Major R. F. Mitchell, M.C., machine-gunners and ordnance, Captain R. Mac Ewan, reconnaissance battalion, and Lieutenant W. L. Free, special training cadre.

Following the march past, the'men reformed in mass and advanced in review order when the Royal Salute was again given. After his Excellency’s address, the Royal Salute was repeated as the official party left the ground.

Good in Short Period.

Addressing the parade, his Excellency said that he regretted that the weather had prevented the ceremonial being carried out on the date original ly intended, because he knew what was involved in preparing for an inspection. Another reason for his regret was a purely personal one, for he spent the first 15 years of his service in the army, and when he had the op portunity of visiting a military camp or seeing a big parade it brought back to him some of the big thrills of his early years of service.

Congratulating the officer command ing, the officers and all ranks, his Ex-