Pomp, pageantry as battalion beats the retreat

by Anne-Marie Emerson
All the pageantry of New Zealand's military came to Wanganui in the weekend as the 5th Wellington West Coast and Taranaki Battalion's 150th anniversary celebrations came to a close.
The battalion has spent the past year celebrating its 150th anniversary, including a garden party in Wanganui last March and a three-day event in New Plymouth in August.
The battalion held an open day for the public on Saturday afternoon at the forecourt of the War Memorial Hall.
Kids and adults alike had the chance to get to grips with military weapons and vehicles, and meet some of the soldiers.
The formal Beating the Retreat parade was held on Saturday evening, with the 7th Battalion brass band, drummers, parading of the colours and a firing party.
During the parade, Colonel Paul King and Wanganui's deputy mayor, Dot McKinnon, unveiled two plaques at the bottom of the Veterans' Steps, signifying the links between the 5th Battalion and the Wanganui region.
Regimental Sergeant Major Ken Macrae said the battalion, which was 200 strong at present, covered a wide area of the North Island, from the Kapiti Coast to Taumarunui and New Plymouth.
He said the battalion had a long and proud history and had seen action in many conflicts, from the Boer War to modern peacekeeping missions.
PICTURED: Members of the firing party signal the close of the Beating Retreat parade at dusk on Saturday.