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This is unedited raw film footage, shot by Academy Award winning US Marine cinematographer Norman T. Hatch for a US newsreel that was never completed, provisionally titled 'Meet New Zealand'. Around 21,000 Marines were stationed in camps around the Wellington region from June 1942 until November 1943. Most of their time was spent training hard preparing for the war in the Southwest Pacific against the Japanese.
Silent 16mm film.
The Governor-General, Cyril Newall and Lady Newall are greeted by an (unidentified) American General on a mid-way point in Lambton Quay. Commanding officers and distinguished guests are gathered at this junction. A large crowd lines the street behind them, and thousands of people are tightly bunched along both sides of the street and on every available balcony.
A US military jeep heads a marching parade, which starts with a US military brass band. They pass a small group of standing, commanding officers (COs), with distinguished guests seated behind them. Various groups follow: New Zealand war veterans, the 1st NZ Expeditionary Force, ANZAC’s, a US Marine Rifle company followed by a NZ Rifle company wearing lemon squeezers and another company of NZ soldiers.
More American Marine troops follow, then a Scots marching band. A squad of the Women’s Royal New Zealand Naval Service (Wrens), closely followed by members of the Women’s War Service Auxiliary (NZ).
Close-up shots of a US Military band followed by a large group of American Red Cross volunteers.
A line of military vehicles follow the marching troops; a Red Cross van, jeeps, military trucks towing mounted howitzer guns, and tanks. The crowds fill the street as the parade passes.