| both performed the Anzac Day 'Retreat' each year just as
we did before the war. There was... Wally Gordon [and many others] all doing their best to
keep the spirit of the Battalion alive. Andy Hobson was still the Drum Major for both
bands" (Official History). Wally Gordon is still keeping the band going today, and
third from the left in the third row of the 1948 photo is Eric Skachill who has recently
returned to the WSPD after a long stint with another band. The first major parade after the War was "Band Week" in
1946 which culminated in a huge concert at Wellington's Basin Reserve. The feature event
was (of course) the massed pipes and drums in which all Wellington pipe bands
participated. The concept behind Band Week was simple enough: to thank all Wellington
bands for their patriotic fundraising and moral-boosting work during the War. Andy Hobson
of the Pipes & Drums, as senior Drum Major, had the honour of leading the massed pipes
and drums. There is a New Zealand Film Unit news reel in the National Film Archives
showing part of this performance. The massed bands are playing a rather a racy rendition,
by modern standards, of The 79th's Farewell to Gibralter. (Here is a more conservative
rendition). Andy Hobson's mace drill (as a regimental Drum Major he never tossed
the mace) stands in stoic contrast to the manic flourishings of the other Drum Majors
during the parade!
1953 saw another significant parade of
post-War life - the Coronation Parade. In the Coronation Honours List of 1953 it was
announced that HM Queen Elizabeth II had accepted the offer of Colonel-in-Chief of
the Regiment, the highest honour a regiment could receive. The following day the Regiment
paraded through the city to pass in review before the Governor General. While waiting to
move off for the parade, news spread through the ranks that Edmund Hillary, a New
Zealander, had conquered Mount Everest.
The Coronation gave rise to one of the
greatest occasions in the history of the Regiment. HM Queen Elizabeth II was to visit New
Zealand for the State Opening of Parliament. This would be the first time the New Zealand
Parliament had been opened by a reigning monarch. It was initially suggested that the
Royal New Zealand Air Force should provide the Guard of Honour at the State opening of
Parliament - the only Guard of Honour on the New Zealand tour. It was pointed out that the
Wellington Regiment had always provided the Guard of Honour for visiting Royalty
(including the Prince of Wales in 1920) and eventually the Wellington Regiment was chosen.
Her Majesty was to wear her Coronation gown but it was decided that she would not inspect
the Guard. When Her Majesty was informed of the arrangements she is reputed to have
remarked that "these are Territorials and they will be expecting an inspection. You
will arrange it so that I will inspect them. I am their Colonel-in-Chief". And so it
was. |
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