WELLINGTON VISIT Rex's Reception

Observation Post, Volume 1, Issue 5, 19 June 1942, Page 1

WELLINGTON VISIT Rex's Reception

I The trip to Wellington last Saturday should, have taught us all something or other. It was more than just an impressive ceremony or even tribute to the Allied Nations. It was what might be described as a rehearsal and each man in the Regiment probably found he was deficient in something, drivers may have learned . how to maintain distances and so on. The Parade itself was inspiring but the I reception Hex received was if any thing more so. Perched. on top of,the cab in the care of Gunner Miller he looked himself, his salute .at the saluting base was (courteously acknowledged and the cheers which greeted him all along the route did not go to his head although sad to relate he became I sick of them near the end of Courtenay ; Place. . . I As in action, a soldier can only describe his own immediate front, so with the Parade. The writer , was in the .Adjutant car immediately behind Bex. Our Echelon went into action dead on zero hour immediately after a good breakfast and we were astounded at the organisation which, had provided E.R.C. men at all cross roads. As some members of -the. Regiment have a well developed . ability for scrounging, we were fortunate in, haying delightful, hot tea at. both meal halts, whilst a certain Don B made himself most adapt at carrying jars of tea and sandwiches to vehicles fore and aft of us. The parade in Wellington itself was a display of military strength, ■ which

must have been a revelation to many of the general public as well as to ourselves. To all a reassurance of the power and ability of'New Zealand To defend her shores. We did not see the ’infantry but from reports only a-* small : section of .850 yards we're on foot, the : remainder being mounted. Altogether 1 800 vehicles, of which we were no flea I bite, and 18 tanks took part. Included l in the parade was also one 4 Battery gun which had a parade all to itself I and is said to have impressed , the ua- ,| fives of the capital city with its mo- , bility. ■ i For the benefit of those who travelled . too fast to recognise faces at the , I saluting base, we reprint the names ]from “The Manawatu Times’,’.' I “The salute was taken by the Gov- . ernor-General, Sir Cyril Newall, behind I whom, stood the General Officer Com- ! manding the New Zealand Forces, , Lieut.-General E. Puttie k, C. 8., D. 5.0., the Chief of the Naval Staff, Sir Atwell Lake, the Chief of . the Air Staff, Air Commodore R. V. Goddard and Colonel J. H. Nankivell representing the U.S. ■ Minister to New Zealand; Brigadier General I’. J. Hurley, MajorGeneral N. W. McD. Weir, Central Divisional Commander, and Colonel H. M. . Foster, Commandant, Central Military District were among the military exe- . cutives present.” One of- the features of the parade was the inclusion of a number of . Indians, in native costume,' representing part of the Mercantile Marine.