Views of Coronation Procession May 1937

12 May 1937

Page 58 of photograph album. Title: Views of Coronation Procession May 1937. [Top left] A float replica of the sailing ship Victory, being towed behind a small vehicle decorated with a Union jack flag. Banner are hung across Manchester Street and hang from the buildings. Crowds are lined up down the street. [Top centre] Crowds of people line Manchester Street, watching the Coronation Procession. The replica train float is decorated wit Union Jack flags and has a sign of the side '1937'. [Top right] A view looking south down Manchester Street, at floats involved in the Coronation Procession. [Centre left] A man riding a large bull past a crowd of people standing outside a butcher shop during the Coronation Procession. [Centre] View of the Sumner Life Saving float taking part in the Procession. [Centre right] A Coronation Procession float, holding a large crown. [Bottom left] A bullock team of six, pulling a cart of people. The driver is standing in front of the team holding a whip and a police officer stands in front of the crowd as the team walks past. [Bottom centre] A police officer moves the crowd back from the street, as a pipe band and vehicles are about to travel past. [Bottom right] View down Manchester Street, at the Coronation Procession floats.

Contributors note: "The photographs in the album were taken by my father, Edward (Eddie) Walsh. He was one of ten children. His father, George Senior, died due to workplace poisoning when Eddie was 16, and to compensate the family for their loss, my father was offered a position at George's place of work, Bunting and Co. The family was very religious, and during World War II, was a conscientious objector. He was imprisoned at the detention camp at Balmoral, in the Hurunui. As he was very mechanically minded, my father worked on the forestry blocks fixing the trucks, which meant he had some freedom from the detention camp. At the time of his imprisonment, he was married, with a son. My mother had relocated to the area and was helping a family with six children under five – a set of triplets, twins and a singleton. Before moving to the Hurunui, she and her son lived with her mother-in-law in Vogel Street. Having a husband as a conscientious object was very difficult for her when meeting other women whose husbands were fighting in the war."

Creator: Eddie Walsh

Contributor: Walsh Family

Source: Entry in the 2025 Christchurch City Libraries Photo Hunt.

Reference ID: CCL-PH25-2059

Uploaded by: CCL Photo Hunt

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