Interesting Items.

Camp News, Volume 3, Issue 153, 18 December 1942, Page 4

I nteresting Items.

With all the contingents on the ground, the Stars and Stripes flag was . borne out before the stand and the Marine Band -played the “Star Spangled Banner.’’ A musical march by. the interhouse girls, accompanied by the same band, followed. In the meantime the R.N.Z.A.F. Band and the Camp Band massed, and at the conclusion -of the marching disdid a ceremonial march. It Was explained to the audience by Flight Lieutenant Gladstone Hill, the commander of the R.N.Z.A.F. Band, who acted as. announcer and master of ceremonies, that the reason why the Marine Corps Band did not play with the other two bands was a difference in pitch in their instruments. The two . New Zealand bands played to the higher pitch of 540 C, while the United States band was tuned to a 522 .C. A few \ bars of “Colonel Bogey’’ played by the three bands together soon convinced that their massing was not very tuneful. While the R.N.Z.A.F. Band, with the W.A.A.F.’s colour parties, the A.T.C. armed escort, the other A.T.C. units and the Red Cross Women’s Transport unit were moving into position for the chief item of the afternoon’s programme, the camp band, under Captain Pike, kept the audience interested with two inarches.

Trooping the Colour. The ceremonial Trooping the Colour was excellently and punctiliously! carried out. It was organized by Mr. A. D. Lynch, of Napier. The parade, in three sides of a. square, advanced toward the stand from the ■fa side of the ground in perfect formation. At either side'were the A.T.C., units, with the armed escorts at the rear of each line. The R.N.Z.A.F. Band formed the centre of the back line, with the Red Cross Transport girls each side of it. Within the square, slightly in advance of the back line, were the four colour parties of W.A.A.F’s, bearing,• from left to right, the Australian, United States, British (Union Jack), and New Zealand flags. The parade came to the halt before the centre of the stand. From beneath the stand emerged four girls in bright uniforms after the type of the Guards, and wearing busbies. They advanced to positions facing the spaced colour parties. Then, in order, the United States, Australian, New Zealand and British colours were transferred to them, with precise ceremony. by the W.A.A.F.' bearers. The four girls, also specially visiting Welling-

ton from Napier, were Miss Coral Barmer (captain), Union' Jack ;/ Miss Kitty Stowell, . Australia ; Miss Merle Greenway, United States;- and Miss Charlotte Parata, New Zealand. . ’ : Following the trooping ’ between ’ the opened< front and / rear lines .of the three sides of the square, the whole parade marched past the stand, the mayor of Wellington, Mr. Hislop, taking the salute. Mayor’s Thanks. .' With the parade drawn up before the stand,'. Mr,'. Hislop voiced the thanks of the Wellington . Patriotic Committee to all who had worked to make the entertainment such a great success, and also the- people .of ' Wellington for the large attendance. ' ' , “By your showing here,” the mayor said to the spectators, “you must be congratulated in' demonstrating that you will not' let ; down the men overseas.” In paying a tribute to the Marine Corps band, he said that by the warmth of their, reception of the band spectators had shown their appreciation of it, and also, of all the other Americans they had got to know so well. ' Flight Lieutenant Gladstone’Hill added a tribute from New Zealand bandsmen. Wherever their paths might lead them in the time to come they . would always be remembered here. An item by the- Marines Band, and the R.N.Z.A.F. Band’s ceremonial “V.”/ march brought the’ programme to an. end. . ' /;