OLD MESSMATES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 251, 23 October 1928, Page 17

OLD MESSMATES.

VETERANS' TRAFALGAR DINNER

"Be early, be hungry, and be merry* i'-d waa the slogan attached to the citation for-h Warded, to the members of the Hoyal Naval j and Marine Veterans Association to attend [' the annual Trafalgar Diy dinner at Prior'a 1 5 Cafe, Strand Atc&de, on Saturday after-' 2 noon. The exceUent meal provided ensured 1 1 that none went away hungry, and* the! musical items werfe of more than special! merit at this gathering of the fighters of|> other days. Mr. W. B. Ley land, who was|| host, had as his gavel a twist of natty-11 tobacco that was about as big as & police f baton/ He invited any of the old salts to try a pipe of the real stuff if they felt to . | inclined. It was made 22 years ago. 5

Before starting tTie toast list members stood in silence for a few moments out of respect to the memory of Captain Goodwyn Archer.. *;■>' .•: • •.

Mr. expressed regret that tlie| father of the association, Mr. "Rowley'*! Hill, did not feel well enough to attend the; function. Mr. Hill, it may be mentioned, had his 92nd birthday last January, and saw some fighting as a volunteer under Garibaldi before coming to New Zealand and fighting on the' East Coast against the Hauhau leader Te Kooti. The chairman uext welcomed the president aqd vicepresident of'the White Ensign Club.

After the toast of '"The King" had been honoured, Mr. W. H. Glibbery proposed "The Navy.'* He said that he joined H.M j. Impregnable when a boy of 15, in 1879, to learn bunting tossing (i.e. signalling). In the late war he served under both Lord Jellico and Lord Beatty, and waa present at the surrender of the Hun fleet at Scapa Flow. Things, he said, had changed since he joined the Navy as a. boy. A man would get 14/ per day now for what be was then only paid 3/U- He was sure, however, that when the time came, the men of; the Navy to-day would bs just as ready to do their duty as their forefathers had been. (Applause.) s

Commissioned Gunner H. J. Taylor, of H.M j>. Philomel, said the boys had * rough time even when he joined the Navy 22 years ago, but 7 conditiona were much better now. He might say that the New Zealand division were exceptionally well treated. 'The spirit of the old days still prevails." said Mr.Taylor, "though they have different methods of training." (Applause.)

Captain Wheeler proposed "The Army and" Kindred Forces." He said that, although he waa speaking for the Army, he had apent most of his time in the Navy, but had military service during the war in South Africa and also in _ the late war. Speaking about old soldiers and sailors having to go round hawking for a living, Captain Wheeler said people should remember what these men had done for'them in days gone by- (Applause.) Captain George Stichbury, who mentioned that he waß 86 years of age, which made him the senior of Mr. George Powler by a couple of years, responded to the toast. He said it was the generosity .of Mr. Ley land that kept up these aiipi»l Trafalgar dinners, which were so enjoyable. Captain Stichbury stated that" her. had joined a training ship for the Royal Jfavy I © years ago. It waa now 65 years since be, I with others, marched olit of Auckland to take part in the war with the Maoris in the Waikato. f

Mr. Taylor (HJH-a. Philomel) gave a fine rendering of 'Drake's Drum," and, being encored, tang "The Yeoman of England." He said that during the late war there were old sailors at Cardiff who avened they heard Drake's drum beating as the German fleet went up to surrender at Scapa Flow.

Mr. Glibbery: Yea, he was drumming them up the Channel as he drummed them long ago. The toast of "The Pre*" wasalaodrunk, Mr.Leylsnd remarking that their gathering were always kindly treated by the nepers in Auckland. The aceompsnut was Mr. W. A. PurcelL' Songs were contributed by Messrs. A, WaTbrick, t». Bickerton, .Taylor aind Captain! Wheeler. Each vocalist was encored* end it is safe to state that thoee present the .injunction - W the invitation, T? ""According to his usual custom Mr. Prior provided a "churchwarden" and * tin of Xcvjr Cat tobacco for each guest.