NEW ZEALANDERS IN PARADE

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24897, 10 June 1946, Page 5

NEW ZEALANDERS IN PARADE

Rousing Reception x From Crowds SERGEANT-MAJOR’S PRAISE

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) LONDON, June 8. The big moment of the whole parade for the New Zealanders was when marching in perfect formation they

gave “Eyes Left” at the saluting base and saw the King and Queen, Queen Mary, the Princesses, Mr Churchill, Mr Attlee, and members of the Cabinet in the forefront of the distinguished gathering. Although the crowd at this point was most decorous, along the whole route each of the contingents—some more than others ac-

cording to how well they were known —received cheers and clapping. The New Zealanders, following the Canadians and the Australians and preceding the South Africans, received obvious recognition, which was aided by their peaked hats and coloured puggarees. The air “Waltzing Matilda,” almost as familiar to Kiwis as to native Australians, preceded them as they were approaching the saluting point, and they were followed along by the South African and equally well-known song “Sarie Marais.” It was one of the times one felt the need for a New Zealand national marching song. From ‘the Navy in the van to the women’s services in the rear, the New Zealand files were steady, soldierly, and aligned as the contingent passed the official stand to meet the cheers from the. less restrained crowds lining the further end of the Mall.

There was some inquiry among the crowd for the Maoris, who were apparently expected by some onlookers to march as a distinct unit. Some time after the New Zealanders passed, an anxious inquirer in the press box was endeavouring to identify a Maori among one- of the following colonial contingents. The New Zealand Minister of Finance (the Rt Hon. W. Nash) and Mrs Nash and the High Commissioner for New Zealand in Great Britain (the Rt. Hon. W. J. Jordan) represented New Zealand on the official stand. Mr Nash sat at the left of the Royal dais in line with Mr Attlee, Mr Churchill, the Prime Minister of Canada (Mr W. L. Mackenzie King), and the Prime Minister of South Africa (General Smuts). Mr Jordan was behind him several tiers back. Mrs Nash sat with the British Foreign Minister, Mr Ernest Bevin, and Mrs Bevin, behind Her Majesty. Sir Cyril Newall and Lady Newall were also among the guests on the official stand and greeted many old friends before the march past commenced. New Zealand Ensign The New Zealand ensign hung with flags of the chief Allies and the other Dominions near the . saluting base. Sergeant-Major W. Kennedy, M.M., of Auckland, who trained the largest section of the New Zealand contingent, was well pleased with the way the New Zealanders marched, “although the band was too far ahead, involving frequent change of step.” “The Kiwis really swung into the march along the Mall,” he added. “The continuous roar of cheering made it difficult for the officers to make their orders heard. The crowd gave us a great reception. Above the cheering you could near them yelling ‘Good Ola Kiwis’ and ‘Come along, All Blacks.’” Colonel L. W. Andrew, V.C., said: “Everything went perfectly and we had no worries at all. For most of the time we could not hear the bands, which were some distance away and, anyway, were drowned by the cheering crowds. It was an exhilarating experience, although rather too hot.” Captain C. H. Upham, V.C. and bar, who marched in the fourth rank, endorsed the comment that the high spot of tiie whole parade was passing the saluting base and glimpsing Their Majesties. “I would like to have seen the parade but of course all we could see was those ahead of us. We could not hear anything except the crowds and the rattles whirled by the children. I was sorry for the crowd when it began to rain.” Squadron Leader M. H. Trent, V.C.. D.F.C., said: “It was a very enjoyable march and most of us would be happy to have done the whole thing over again if necessary. Passing Constitution Hill I somehow or other had to check dressing by glancing to the left. Oddly enough I saw my wife waving to me and gave her a salute.” Lieutenant-Colonel F. Awatere, D.S:O., a former commander of the Maori Battalion, said: “Frankly there were times when I had a lump in my throat. The thought that struck me was that here in thd crowd were the people who had taken the blitz and who really won the war, and that in their faces you could see the whole history of the war.”

Major F. J. Martin, M.8.E., of Gisborne, said: “It was like marching through a long tunnel but the tunnel comprised chfeering crowds.” Charge-Sister D. Waldie, of Wellington, said: “We were not as tired as I thought we might be. but even when we began to feel tired the cheering crowds helped us.” A New Zealand Official War Correspondent, who travelled with the mechanised column, said that the parade moved along 25 miles of happy, hearty cheering.

People lining the streets in front of bombed-out sections and perched on ruined buildings cheered as if they had not a care in the world. For them it was a wonderful day of triumph.