‘Grand Review of Troops’ at 3pm, Saturday September 26 1908 at Newtown Park with a march past and addresses by the Governor Lord Plunket and the PM, Sir Joseph Ward before an enthusiastic crowd of 12,000 people on a blustery Wellington day.
MS Crowds travelling to Newtown Park - Tram and horse drawn coach moving along street - double decker tram with SIGN “Newtown” passes by crowd of men, women and children on roadside.
PAN L Across large crowd on embankment with solitary cabbage tree and flagpole standing above people.
“the bright red and deep blue contrasts of the various uniforms being accentuated by the magpie fringe of black and white presented by the tiers of people arranged in their thousands all over the grassy slopes of the park.”
MLS Captain Lyon, ADC in Bearskin hat, Lord Plunket, Sir Joseph Ward (in regalia), Lady Ward in magnificent hat, Dignitaries and old soldier (Faithful Retainer) in BG, Crowds surrounding dias seated nearby - many women in large plumed hats.
WS Dais with official parties, dignitaries and group of military officers in FG in dress uniform.
PAN L Across cadets standing on parade and turning to their right in front of large crowd seated on embankment.
WS GV Sir Joseph Ward, Lord Plunket, Lieutenant Colonel G.F.C Campbell - parade Commander and Captain Lyons saluting as soldiers and cadets march past - crowds on embankment in BG.
“The Guards and a Colour Party with the Wellington Rifle battalion, Queens and regimental colours march past followed by the Highland Rifles and then school cadet companies.”
WS GV School cadets marching with shouldered rifles - led by officers with sabres.
WS Columns of troops marching on field with crowd on embankment in BG.
“The marching in column of companies was beautifully executed and every company participating received hearty applause from the lookers-on”.
MS Crowds lining street at junction of Homer and Riddiford Streets - soldiers marching on Riddiford Street, Naval volunteers, Kelburne Rifles pulling two machine guns (wheels only visible), Wellington Pipe Band and Highland rifles - Women wearing large fabulous hats, men in suits,
“It was the first occasion in Wellington if not New Zealand, upon which such guns were present at a ceremonial parade.”
It was all: “Fanfare and rumbling guns, white cockades, prancing horse scarlet tunics, big busbies, Highland bonnets, boys in blue and the hundred concomitants of a grand parade of all arms’. (EP 28 August 1908)
Spoilt only by: “any fool with a camera (who) was allowed to wonder all over the place, to spoil the ensemble, and generally to make himself a curse.” (NZ Freelance, 3 October 1908)
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19080928.2.22?end_date=31-12-1908&phrase=0&query=grand+review+of+troops+Newtown&start_date=01-01-1908