A Royal Naval officer took the salute at a march past at the Barracks, the depot of The York and Lancaster Regiment on Friday, for the first time in the history of the Depot. The occasion was the pass-out parade of about 60 National Service recruits after their basic training, and the officer was Commander J. Ellerton, of the training ship HMS Ceres, at Wetherby. He was accompanied by the Mayor of Rotherham, Councillor G.R. Brown, and the officer commanding the Depot, Major J.V. Hawkins.

Major Hawkins thought it might be a good idea to ask a senior Naval officer to take the salute, because of the Regiments close association with the Royal Navy for many years and with the HMS Sheffield, which recently returned from duty in the West Indies. During the pass out ceremony, which was watched by the parents of a number of the recruits, the Mayor of Rotherham presented prizes for sport and individual competence. He also presented the intake Brigade Cup which is competed for by intakes of all Yorkshire Regiments. It was the fourth successive intake at the Depot to win the trophy. After the ceremony the parents had tea in the NAAFI canteen. Their sons then accompanied them home for leave before leaving for duty in the Canal Zone.

Commander Ellerton and the Mayor of Rotherham were entertained to luncheon in the Officers Mess and later visited the Regimental Museum.