March Through Hastings

Te Ao Hou, June 1966, Page 24

March Through Hastings In one of the most moving ceremonies Hastings has seen, former members marched through Hastings on Sunday 27 March. Led by a combined Ratana and Hamuera brass band, the men marched to cheers and applause from onlookers. In front of the Hall of Memories and the Memorial Library they were met by a guard of honour from Hawke's Bay Maori schools. As devotions began, members snapped to attention, and together with many from the large crowd they joined the girls of St. Joseph's Convent in singing Kia Tata Mai Koe — Nearer My God to Thee. After addresses from Rev. K. Te Paenga and Father N. Denning. Brigadier Dittmer laid the Battalion wreath in front of a plaque to the fallen. The hamn Abide with Me was sung and then survivors from A Company. Brigadiers D. McIntyre and Dittmer, and the Mavor of Hastings. Mr R. V. Giorgi, led the Battalion slowly through the Hall of Memories beneath Peter McIntyre's mural of the fighting men of New Zealand in the desert. The men then slowly marched to the Cenotaph, where they were addressed by the Rt Rev. J. T. Holland, Bishop of Waikato, who asked that the bereaved, the wounded and the dead be remembered and spoke of the fine

spirit of the Battalion. He said that he believed the Battalion had a greater task to perform today than it had during the war: it had to use its enthusiasm and dedication to fight the real war of today, which was not between men and nations, but between good and evil. Bishop Holland's address was followed by the hymn the Battalion sang before battle, Au, e Ihu tirotea. Wreaths were laid on the Cenotaph and the Last Post and Reveille were sounded. They were followed by the final farewell to the dead, which was sung with great emotion. The ceremony over, some of the solemnity was dispelled. Led by the Hawke's Bay Scottish Pipe Band, men of the 28th Maori Battalion marched light-heartedly back through the streets.