WARTIME COMRADES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 219, 16 September 1935, Page 3

WARTIME COMRADES.

OLD CONTEMPTIBLES UNITE.

ANNUAL DINNER HELD,

When Auckland members of the Old C'otitemptiblcs' Association sat down to their ninth annual dinner on Saturday evening it was difficult to remember that just 21 years before those same men had been engaged in the most desperate struggle of the world's history. Yet memories existed there in the apparent disabilities of some of them, in the rows of medals adorning civilian dress, in the grouping of the New Zealand, French and British clours; in the regimental colours adorning the walls, in the shields emblazoned with the names of battles—Mons, Le Chateau, Maine, Aisne, PloegsteertWood, Measines, Ypree, Armentieres, Neuve Chapelle, Fostubert and Flcrbaix; jn the references by speakers, and, mainly in the silent tribute to the fallen.

Saturday's gathering, however, held little of sorrow, and the atmosphere was borrowed mainly from another notice, "L'estaminet des Anglais." Nearly 400 people sat down to dine, and at the conclusion they danced in a carnival air of paper hats. The president of the association. Mr. P. Peters, presided, and associated with him as guests of honour were the Consul for Belgium, Mr. A. M. Ferguson, the patron of the Now Zealand branch, General Sir George Kichardson, Commander B. L. Hewitt, R.N., 0.8. E., Sir. J. W. Kendall, president of the R.S.A., and Captain K. McLean, U.S. Res.

The toast list was honoured as follow:— "The King." "The Association" (proposed by Mr. Ferguson and responded to by Sir George Richardson), "Kindred Associations" Mr. F. Harvey. Commander Hewitt. ex-Naval Men's Association, Mr. ' Kendall, R.S.A., Colonel Spragge. Gallipoli Association, and Mrs. McComb. ex-Service-women's Association, and "Guests" (Captain F. \V. Short).

Letters of apology and good wishes were received from the Governor-General, Viscount Galwny, and the Mayor, Mr. Krnest Davis.