PARADE OF TROOPS

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20991, 19 December 1939, Page 8

PARADE OF TROOPS

SALUTE TO “DIGGERS” MARCH THROUGH HAMILTON MEN OF tLe SPECIAL FORCE Soldiers of to-day and the “diggers” of the Great War will honour each other in Hamilton on Thursday, December 28 as the men of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force proceed from their final leave to mobilisation camps to await the order to depart for service overseas. In a march along Victoria Street about midday the new Waikatos will give the salute to the old Waikatos of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, who will be assembled at Garden Place.

The gesture will be made as the result of a suggestion made by several non-commissioned officers of the Waikato Company of the 18th Rifle Battalion. Men of all units serving with the Special Force are asked to join the parade. The troops will assemble at the Army Office, Hood Street, at 11.45 a.m. on Thursday, December 28. Headed by the Waikato Companj' under the command of Captain L. I. Day, of Hamilton, the parade will march along Victoria Street to the Hamilton Railway Station. Saluting Officer At Garden Place, the returned soldiers will parade under Lieuten-ant-Colonel R. D. McFarland, who at the end of the Great War was officer commanding the Waikatos. He will take the salute. At the Hamilton railway station the troops will be farewelled by the Deputy-Mayor of Hamilton, Mr F. Findlay, in the absence of the Mayor, Mr H. D. Caro. The soldiers will leave by the express for their camps. Although no indication can be given at the present time of the num - ber of men likely to participate in the parade, it is known that at least 70 men of the Waikato Company will parade.