"DINKUM AUSSIES."

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 269, 12 November 1937, Page 12

"DINKUM AUSSIES."

A.I.F. MEN CELEBRATE.

FIRST AUCKLAND REUNION. A STRIKING CEREMONY. Heads bowed in the gloom of darkened banquet room, in one corner of which an illuminated Union Jack was lowered as Padre H. K. Viokery paid brjef, touchinp tribute to absent comrades and bujrle sounded the Last Post. 42 veterans of the Australian Imperial Forces recited the padre's trenchant closing phrase: "We will remember them." And as the flag rose again with the return of the light and the notes of the Reveille, 42 veterans of various ranks and regiments from the States of the Commonwealth (including Sister F. E. Mcllsop, of the Nursing Service), who had answered the roll call at the first annual dinner and reunion at the Central Hotel last night of the recently formed Auckland branch of A.T.F. exServicemen's Association, carried on with the programme appropriate to the occasion. Lieutenant E. P. Titcliener presided, and among the guests* of honour were Commander C. B. Tinley, R.N., Lieut n-ant-jColonel R. Miles, D.5.0., M.C., Mr. J. W. Kendall, president of the Returned Soldiers' Association, and Mr. J. Melting, representing the City Council in the . unavoidable absence of the Mayor. Best wishes for the success of the association were received from Sir Ernest Davis, from Sir George Richardson and from kindred associations in Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. Mr. Titchener, in his opening remarks, expressed his confidence in the future of the association, which had really dated from the time of the pioneer flight across the Tasman of the late Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and his associate, Flight Commander Ulm, who had carried back to Australia with them a message to associated comrades that the Auckland branch of Australian ex-servicemen was in process of . formation. He pointed out that of the 80,000 New Zealanders who saw service, 12,000 were 35 years of age at the time of enlistment and there were now in the country .'{o.l returned soldiers over 70 years of age. Australia had sent 320,000 men, so that there would be approximately five times as many returned Australian soldiers as there were New Zealanders who had served in the war, * now also getting into the "sere *nd yellow" and requiring some attention. It was consequently obvious that there was useful work before the association. He was confident the Australian veterans in New Zealand would readily recognise it, and he reminded the company that throughout the war the Australians were never set a task they did not endeavour to carry out. A very pleasant social evening was enjoyed, the irrepressible spirit of the "dinkum Aussie" sparkling up at intervals in story, song, speech and interjection. The .toast list included "The Services," proposed by Secretary (Sergeant) N. R. Chapman and replied to by Commander Tinley, Lieutenant-Colonel Miles, Mr. V. J. Parkinson, Sister Mollsop and Captain O. Brown; "R.S.A. (Australia and New Zealand)." proposed by Mr. R. Long and replied to bv Messrs. J. W. Kendall and C. K. fihoard; "Land of Our Adoption," proposed by Mr. W. S. Morrison and replied to by Mr. J. Melling.