DOWN THE STRAND

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 91, 20 July 1943, Page 5

DOWN THE STRAND

FURLOUGH MEN PARADE SCENES OF ENTHUSIASM If it was not the largest, the parade last Saturday of furlough men from the Middle East and men of the R.S.A. was definitely one of the mos>t enthusiastic as far as the townspeople were concerned, and the cheering as they marched down the Strand was the loudest and most prolonged we have heard for many a day. The town which had been crowder with visitors, and shoppers all the morning was thronged by noon with thousands who desired to do honour to the men who had fought so well. Both sides of the Strand were crowded, and the usual contingent of small boys dotted, the rock as they secured-vantage points from which to view the general excitement. It was necessary every now and then to clear an avenue down the street in readiness for the march. The furlough and repatriated men formed up opposite the rock under command of Colonel Prideaux, while the men of the R.S.A. made a darker column on the. western side. The Whakatane Pipe Band leel off, with the Boys Band immediately in its' rear. Pride of place was of course given to the men on leave and the. skirl of the pipes playing "Bonnie Dundee" was the signal for the crowd to surge forward. Here They Come ! The first excited intimation of. the parade moving up the Strand was the loud voice of a school boy shouting out in a high pitched falsetto "Here they come! Here they come! !" Applause broke out from the packed crowd which however gave way to the real thing as some one. on a verandah roof bellowed —"Let's give 'em a cheer!" The. crowd wanted no second invitation and cheer after cheer rolled out as the. procession made its way to the monument. « The Boys Band, playing a lively quick-step took over at the halfway mark and played till the Winter Show Hall was reached. Here the Pipers halted inside and played the marching units into position. The whole parade was well executed and a very memorable one for Whnlkatane.