RIFLE BATTALIONS ON PARADE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2688, 7 February 1916, Page 6

RIFLE BATTALIONS ON PARADE

MARCtt THROUGH THE CITY

STURDY HARD-BITTEN LOT

The fiact that the cables are telling us tlliat tllie First and Second Battalions of the New Zealand' Rifle Brigade (the Karl of Liverpool's Own) are in touch with tho enemy in Western .Egypt made tho parade of the Third Battalion through the streets of the City on Saturday afternoon doubly interesting. From all accounts the "Earl's Own/' and incidentally "our own," liave been giving a good account of themselves iu the firing line, maintaining in no ordinary way the tine traditions established on the bloody hills of Galiipoli by those bravo men who went before tliem from theso shores. Tho "Thirds," of whom all New Zealand will have tihe highest anticipations, made their first appearance as a solid unit in Wellington on Saturday afternoon in perfect weather, and: created a most favourable impression. As a whole the men are not so commanding in stature as cho first two battalions, and were not graded so exactly iii height for tllie march out, but the general impression received was that they were a very sturdy and hard-bitten lot, designed ior utility rather than show —the very stamp of men for the arduous work in store 'for them somewhere in the Empire's far-flung battleline. Bronzed iaces, stocky figures, Bturdy legs, they stewed out bravely ill the sunshine,, a smiling, jolly lot of lads. .

Shortly after 8 p.m. there wa-s a stir along the waterside, and half an hour later the browh-hued column swung round the corner from Waterloo Quay into Bunny Street, and l merged upon 'Lambtqn Quay amidst a burst of hearty cheering, which Iliad an immediate effect in the glowing faces of the "Earl's Own." Owing to absenco~in Auckland, where the Fourth Battalion of the brigade paraded on Friday, His Excellency .Lord Liverpool could not bo present to lead the column. First came the' signalling division of the Third and Fourth Battalions, followed by tJhe Regimental Band. At the head of the battalion rode Major J. A. Cowles, officer commanding, who, boing an old sth Regiment officer, was the recipient of many farewell, greetings along the entire route, both from his old comrades and those who had learned to appreciate his soldierly qualities at Samoa. Behind Major Cowles rode Captain Ridrardson. The column numbered about 1100 men, who were divided by the Salvation Army and the 1 Wellington Pipe Band. The parade was witnessed by an enormous crowd of people, from all corners of New Zealand, and the enthusiasm with which' the men were greeted was equal to any previous demonstration of the kind. Every building that faced the line-off march "had its quota of spectators,; every balcony and verandah was fully; booked,..and in the narrower streets,tho crowd was simply a dense pack of people,, in which movement was almost entirely checked during the passage of the cqlumn. The parade was witnessed from t-he saluting base before the Government Buildings by Brigadier-General A. W. Robin, Commandant of the Forces ; General Henderson. Qhief of the Medical. Corps.;. Lieut.-Colonel Gibbon, Chief of Staff; arid other staff officers.