FOUNDER'S VISIT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 216, 12 September 1935, Page 8

FOUNDER'S VISIT.

CAPTAIN R. POCOCK.

LEGION OF FRONTIERSMEN

SUCCESSFUL LIFE "WORK.

Accompanied by Major J. C. Findlater, of Hawera, commandant of the New Zealand division, Captain Roger Pocock, founder of the Legion of Frontiersmen, arrived in Auckland from the youth by the Limited this morning in continuance of his tour of the Empire to stimulate recruiting in the legion.

When he alighted from the train. Captain Pocock, a bearded veteran of more than one war, who, though within two months of his seventieth birthday, is stil! a very active man, was met by the Mayor, Mr. Ernest Davis, who was accompanied by the town clerk, Mr. J. S. lSrigham, and by Captain W. Palmer, officer commanding the Auckland squadron". After inspecting the guard of honour, which was drawn up outside the platform under the command of Captain K. E. Taylor, Captain Pocock was driven by car to the Cenotaph. Here the guard of honour was formed up in two ranks on the steps leading to tho Cenotaph and a guard of four, with arms reversed, was posted, one man at each corner of the Cenotaph. Captain Pocock placed on the Cenotaph a handsome wreath, in which the flowers were arranged to form a floral representation of the badge of the legion, and stood at the salute while Trumpeter 11. y. Parsons sounded the Last Post and Reveille. Accompanied by officers of the legion Captain Poeock visited tho Shrine of Remembrance in the War Memorial Museum.

From the Museum the car in which Captain Pocock travelled was again escorted by a fleet of curs carrying the guard of honour to the Town Hall, where Captain Pocock was received by the Mayor, Mr. Ernest Davis.

In a speech in which he welcomed the visitor to Auckland, Mr. Davis said that he was glad to see by the fine body of men who were assembled that Captain Pocock'a life work had been so success - ful. • "The people of Auckland are interested in the legion," remarked Mr. Davis, "as they realise that it is not a filibustering organisation, but is pledged to ensure the peace of the community and to maintain social order, which is the life of our Constitution. It is not. necessary for me to make a speech to a man of Captain Pocock's outstanding reputation, but I must say that I am gltubto see a man of his years so vigorous."

"This is an unprecedented honour,' , stated Captain Pocoek in reply, "not to mySelf, who am only a recruiting officer for the legion, but to the whole Legion of Frontiersmen."

A luncheon in Captain Pocock's honour was given by the Royal Empire Society at Milne and Choyce's reception hall to-day and this evening he will be the guest-of the officers of the legion at a dinner 1 fit the Grand Hotel, after which ho Mill attend a reception at the legion headquarters.