CAPT. UPHAM BACK FROM VICTORY PARADE

Chronicle (Levin), 19 June 1946, Page 7

CAPT. UPHAM BACK FROM VICTORY PARADE

^ — Press Association

By Telegraph

AUCKLAND, June 18. n Looking tired after the strain of his t-apid visit to London, Captain Upham, V.G. and Bar, arrived in Auckland by air from Sydney this afternoon, the fir-st member of the New Zealand contingent to return from the Victory parade on June 8. "Taking part in the parade, it was hard to get a general jmpression of it but the whole thing was undoubtedly a huge success," he said. "The people of Loiulon showered us with hospitality aud our greatest ditficulty was in getting enough sleep. A New Zealander is particularly popular in England and members of the contingent. fopml themselves "almost overwhelmed1 with invitations to visit Londou homos. " • The euthusiasm and oxoitement the l>arade created in London was immense, suid Captain Upham. " We had to march about four and a half miles and our part in the parade took a little more than two hours. It was pieasunt marching and not at all tiring. There was only oue lialt wlien the troops caught up with the motoriscd column aud were stopped for 20 minutes. By midday we were baclc ^at Hyde Park and it was all over." After Ihe big parade the New Zoalanders were given general leave aud issued with froe rail warrants to any part of United Kingdom. They were not slow in taking advantage of this opportunity to ti'avel and when he leit Ijondon last Thursday members of tho contingent were all over Britain, man) in Gcotlaiid and some in Irela"iid. Tho New Zealanders were having a line time in England. Those who had been there during the war were revisiting friends tliey had made. "I niet a lot of niv old friends among the Australians and Englisli soldiers taking part in-the parade,' said Captain Upham who leavcs for hi.home in Canterbury by aip tomorrow.