TRIBUTES PAID

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 65, Issue 196, 1 June 1945, Page 2

TRIBUTES PAID

NEW ZEALAND SERVICEMEN. REUNION AT ASHBURTON. WELL-ATTENDED * FUNCTION. No higher tribute could be paid the fighting forces of New Zealand than that out of 134,000 men who left the Dominion, 3800 had been decorated, said Mr W. Crawford, proposing the toast of the “Navy, Army, Air Force and Nursing Service,” at. the annual reunion of the Ashburton branch of the Returned Services Association last evening. Of those decorated seven had attained the highest honour his Majesty the King could bestow—the Victoria Cross.

Mr Crawford paid tribute to the prowess of all servicemen from New Zealand, regardless of the arm of the service in which, they served. He cited the gallantry of this country’s naval forces, which first won recognition in this war in the Battle of the River Plate, which saw the inglorious end of the German pocket-battleship Graf Spee. Extolling the part played by the Army in the battle for freedom, Mr Crawford outlined the campaigns of the New Zealand Division. He men. tinned specially the forlorn hope of the action in Crete. He mentioned as well the exploits of the 3rd New Zealand Division in the Pacific.

There were 42,000 New Zealanders in the Air Force. When war broke out there were .500 men from the Dominion already in the Royal Air Force in Britain, so that one out of every 12 men in the Royal Air Force was a New Zealander. No fewer than 400 women had left New Zealand to succour the wounded in the field, said Mr Crawford. Some had even taken part in the long trek from El Alamein to the Maretli Line. “A Power to Reckon With.” Mr R. G. Gerard, M.P., said the Returned Services Association did not realise its power. If all returned men joined the association it would be an organisation which no Government or member of Parliament could ignore. Mr Gerard asked for the co-operation of returned men individually and as a whole in helping to win file peace, which involved relegating party politics to the background. Welcoming the recently-returned men on behalf of the County, the County Chairman .(Mr 11. 'C. B. Withell) said they had worthily upheld tire name of New Zealand on land, sea and in the air. The Dominion had never had better ambassadors than the men and women it had sent overseas. It was encouraging from a rehabilitation point of view that many of the men recently returned had gone straight into work. In view of the threatened world shortage of food, Air Withell urged as many returned men as possible to take up farming. He said there were more empty houses in the country than in the town, and.that was a bad sign. It, showed that the lure of shorter hours and other facilities in tile town were taking a toll of the rural population. Anzac Record Upheld. The Mayor (Mr E. C. Bathurst), on behalf of the Borough, welcomed hoinh men who had returned recently. He said they had upheld the ’splendid records of the original Anzacs. It must be ensured that, back in civilian life, they were afforded an opportunity of enjoying the fruits of the victory they had helped to win. There was an attendance of about 200, including nearly 30 men who had returned since the last welcome home. The president of the Ashburton branch of the Returned Services Association (Air W. G. Welsh) presided. A musical programme, comprising mostly old war melodies, was given by a portion of the Ashburton Silver Band. Other items were given by Messrs Sparrow and ,1. Horsburgh (instrumental duet), Townley (humorous imitations), J. Keily and W. T. AlcAndrew and Osborne (songs). Air C. G. deC. Drury was the accompanist. The principal toasts were: “The King. Air Welsh; “The Aten Gone West,” Air Welsh; “The Guests,” the Mayor and County Chairman (Staff. Sergeant. R. Green); “Navy, Armv, Air Force and Nursing Sisters,” Air W. Crawford (Lieutenant Featherstone, Navy; Air Petrie, Air Force; Air Seseltine, Army); “Returned Services Association,” Air Gerard (Mr.A. A. AlcDonald); “The Women's Auxiliary,” Mr J. S Weeks.