New Communion Flag For 2nd Battalion

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30469, 17 June 1964, Page 7

New Communion Flag For 2nd Battalion

The 2nd Battalion, New Zealand Regiment, will receive a new chaplain’s communion flag at an interdenominational service at the Shirley Methodist Church on Sunday evening. The flag will be presented by the trust board of the church, to replace the old communion flag, which will be laid up in the church. Since 1888 the Canterbury, Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast Regiment (now the 2nd Battalion, R.N.Z.1.R.) has had a communion flag. This was a Union Jack. Long thought to have been lost, the flag recently was ( discovered in the garrison chapel at Burnham Military Camp. The service will be attended by officers, senior noncommissioned officers, and 30 other ranks from all over the South Island. Also present will be a representative group from the Canterbury Regimental Association. According to the minister at the Shirley Methodist Church (the Rev. F. G. Glenn), who is also chaplain to the battalion, the ceremony of presenting a unit with a communion flag is rare in New Zealand. The origin of communion flags goes back through British military history to the time of the Crusades, he said.

r Crusade flags were used as . under-cloths, on which were placed the communion vessels. The old battalion com- ! munion flag was last used at 1 the annual camp of the regiI ment. At the service the old com- ■ munion flag will be laid up 1 and a plaque unveiled to com--1 memorate the occasion. This part of the service will be , conducted by Mr Glenn, I assisted by the Rev. W. Otter, ' chaplain at Burnham Camp, i The new flag, the New Zea- . land Ensign, will be dedicated ; by the Rev. J. K. Watson, ; chaplain to the New Zealand I Engineers in World War 11. t Mr Watson is at present minister of the Richmond Metho- ■ dist Church. He will be • assisted by Mr Otter. I The lesson will be read by i the commanding officer of ; the 2nd Battalion (Lieuteni ant-Colonel M. C. Stanaway). After the service there will be a social function in the • church hall. Films of the Italian campaign of World ’ War II will be screened. t . —Folded Tyre.—A motor ; vehicle tyre that can be i folded so that it fits into a small storage space when not i in use, but can be inflated ■ in an emergency, has been i developed in the United States.