OFF TO THE WAR.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 8269, 14 October 1915, Page 6

OFF TO THE WAR.

DEPARTURE OF 37 ASHBUItTON COUNTY MEN. A further batch of Ashburton County men left here by the second express last evening cn 1 route for the training camps in. tlio North Island. The total number that entrained was 37, made up as follows: —-Infantry ,< 85; Mounted, 1; Army Service Corps, 1. The infantrymen join the Third and Fourth Battalions of the "Earl of Liverpool's Oown," latterly called the " New Zealand Rifle Brigade," and the mounted man will be apportioned to tko Ninth Reinforcements. The soldier who has enlisted in the Army Service Corps has not yet been attached. The men assembled at the Drillshed at 4 o'clock, where Sergeant-Major H. G. Tollan took the roll-call. Afterwards they sat down to an excellent meat tea provided by Mrs J. Farrell, of Hinds. This lady generously supplied a very . large quantity of' appetising edibles, as ■ well as a stick of chocolate 'and, a packet of cigarettes for eaißh man; The men did full justice t* the far©, and they afterwards gave three ringing cheers for the hostess and three others - for the ladies who watted on them. The men were then given a fine and spirited address by the Rev. Father J. J, O'Donnell. He said that he was glad to hare had the privilege of saymg a. few words to some of the men who were about to leave to undergo their training to fit them for tho great and noble ta«k which they Jiad in front of th«ra. Ever since' tlie war broke out he had coveted the opportunities kad by other gentlemen in the town ia. addressing the departing soldiers, and he was very gratified because- tho opportunity had now come unsought. The men who were about to tear© for tho training camps preparatory to going to the seat of war vrere mot going for the express purpose of striving to redress the infamous wrongs done to the people of Belgium and Servia, they were not

going specially to right the wrongs of the affrighted Armenians, they were ■ not going merely to uphold the honour of the Island race the forbears i of which had sprung and had lived in the far-away British Isles, although.he ! knew they would do all these things ] as far "as it laid in their power; but | they were, going to light for the rights, the freedom,' and the liberties of. the people of " God's Own Country "—- New Zealand. (Applause.) He would not be impertinent enough to offer them adrice. They were men who had made the supreme sacrifice, against which thi>- sacrifice of those who were left behind was a small and meagre tiling. "Greater love hath no s man than this, that a man lay down his life for his brother," and in the case of the men who were now going forth to fight, the word brother was significant of the country of one's birth. They had a difficult task before them. It was possible that a, man or a nation could fall from grace; it was possible for a man, after having once put his hand to the plough, to Took back; but ho trusted—in fact, he a? sure of it-^ that they would not yield to temptation, that they would fight as only Britishers could fight and aye, win out. (Applause.) In the training they were about to undergo they would have time to fit themselves for the part they would have to play in the great game of war. Many of the Germans, the Turks, and the Bulgars were brave soldiers and mighty men of war,' but the New Zealanders' own kith and kin who had gone before them had set them a standard of courage, of bravery, and of tenacity of purpose that would be possible to emulate, to equal, but not to surpass. (Cheers and applause.) The , men who had gone before them had set their mark on thehills of Gallipoli—(applause)—and. when the soldiers now so shortly, todepart got there those at home would be content if they followed the example set by their brothers in blood and brothers in arms. Father O'Donnell then wished the departing men., good-bye and God-speed, and concluded: "We are sorry that you have to go. but wo are proud of you. We hope that you will return safely to your homes and friends, but if in the j inscrutable design of an. all-wise Providence some, of you should not", then 1./, can assure you that your names will I be held in eternal benediction, men 1 will remsmber you with pride, and when your names are mentioned heads will be bowed reverently. I wish you again good-bye and God-speed and a safe-return;" (Cheers and applause.) Cheers were then given for the men and for those at the front. Shortly after 5 o'clock the men were paraded and marched to the bandroom in Tancred Street, whei'e a band composed of members of the Ashburton Citizens' Defence Corps Band and the Salvation Army Band was picked up. The band headed the men on their way to the station, via Tancred and East Streets, a halt being made at the north end of the station. The band played several martial airs, and a large number of the public gathered at'the station to see the men off. Other South Canterbury men rwere aboard the express, and with Ashburton's quota mads up a total of 115. Sergeant-Major Tollan had charge of the men in Ashburton, but at the station he handed them orer to Ser-geant-Major Thomson, of Timaru. After" the men had boarded the es> press, and just as the train was drawing out, the band played " Auld Lang Syne," amid successive trios lof cheers by the public.

The Ashburton men were a particularly "stocky " lot, and hefty in build. They looked fit and well, and if their" present appearances \are any criterion to go by they should be ableito render a very good account of themselves. The names of the departing men are: — Infantry. Armstrong, T. Mcßao, J. McG. Breach, S. P. ' Neil, T. Brady, W. S. Nee, J. Curling, H. 'N. Patching, W. J. Connolly, T. P. Peterson, W. G. Dwyer, W. , Porter, J. T. Dunphy, J. G., Rerinie, G. „ , Dellow, H. G. Sumner, F. G. Deo, A. G. Stace, A. Fahey, P. Staff, A. • j Hart, R. B. Stevens,' J. H. Hosken, 1 G. Stringfellow, G. Harris, J. A. . Thompson, J. Irving, D. J. ' Tilley, W. W. Jessop, C E. Terris, W. H. Laffey, J. M. Watson, J. W. B. Martin, W. H. Wilson, J. Martin, J. A. Mounted. Clement, W. E. Army Service Corps. Keen, W. J. B.