EX-SERVICEMEN'S CORNER

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 204, 28 August 1943, Page 8

EX-SERVICEMEN'S CORNER

ISLAND DEFENDERS MUCH MALIGNED X.Z. TROOPS The complaint aired in the ExServicemen's Corner some weeks ago- against shameful and disparaging references to the New Zealand division in the islands as "banana pickers," "coconut bombeivs." and the like, has been followed by much rightful indignation not only on the part of officials, but also of relatives of the troops forced to do essential, unpleasant and tedious garrison duty. The subsequent protest made by the chairman of the Metropolitan Patriotic Committee that steps would be taken officially to deal with perpetrators of such libels, it is hoped, will have the desired effect of bringing to thoughtless people a realisation of the hardships and trials of island garrisons. A close watch, it is understood, is being kept on outward correspondence, and any further statements derogatory to the service the men are rendering are likely to lead to serious consequences. The feelings of the men of the division towards the attitude of some people at home leaves nothing in doubt, and the following lines are expressive. They were written by a serviceman stationed on the islands, and are sent by a reader in Cambridge. They contain a wealth of meaning, and should be carefully perused by any detractors of the division:— Somewhere in New Caledonia, where the sun is like a curse. And each day i> followed by another slightly worse; Where the brick-red dust blows thicker than the shifting desert sand. And all men fervently wish for a fairer, greener land. Somewhere in New Caledonia where a worm is never seen, Where the sky is never cloudy, and the grass is never green, Where the bats' nocturnal screeching robs a man of nightly sleep. Where there isn't any whisky and the beer is never cheap. Somewhere in New Caledonia where the nights are made for love, Where the moon is like a searchlight and the Southern Cross above Sparkles like a diamond in a balmy tropic flight; It's a shameful waste of beauty when there's not a girl in sight. Somewhere in New Caledonia where the mail is always late, And e Christmas card in April is considered up to date; Where we never have a payday, and never have sl cent. But we never miss the money, 'cause we'd never get it spent. Somewhere in New Caledonia where the ants and lizards play, And a thousand fresh mosquitoes replace each one you slay. So take me back to Cambridge for just a little spell, For this God-forsaken island is just a substitute for Hell. + + + ♦ AN ANZAC MEMORY ..iAORI SOLDIER—RUGBY BACK Away on the slopes of 971, Gallipoli, lies one of the most remarkable Maori soldiers of all time, Hemi .Grace! who, by sheer courage and initiative, gained a commission in the field in a pakeha battalion, Ist Wellington Infantry. Hemi belonged to that great line of Wellington backs which included in its ranks such players as "Teddy" Roberts and the Ryans, and on his day was a prolific try-getter. To his credit must go the cleaning-up of that snipers' hell-hole, Quinn's Post, for ere the sniper's victim had fallen the rattle of Hemi's machine-gun bullets on an iron plate told its own tale, as anyone knows who has carried his own sniper comrades out. Up till then it had been costing the battalions as many as 30 men a day, and we no longer had the unpleasant job of carrying our wounded comrades to. safety. ;-One of the five Wellington representa--1 tive backs to make the supreme sacrifice, Hemi crossed the Great Divide in the .cirific fighting round Sari Bail-. Several Aucklanders who served in this fhie battalion have had the pleasure of playing alongside these men in company matches and know what fine sports they were, ahviys ready to "give it a go" and back up when necessary. They have gone, but they died like the men they were, and gentlemen to the last ditch.—J.H., Ranui. y;rx- + + + + TALE OF A LOST BADGE HOW AN "AUSSIE" WAS FOUND ! An official discharge badge, belonging to a member of the A.I.F. in the last war and bearing a regimental number, was found recently at a football match in Auckland. It was handed to Mr. N. R. Chapman, hon. secretary of the A.I.F. Association in Auckland, and he immediately set about finding the owner. He first wrote to base records in Canberra, and found that the number on the badge was that of a former Digger named McNabb, now resident in New Zealand. — Further search located the owner of the badge at Taihape. He is ■ in the forces again, and may soon go i overseas with the N.Z.E.F. He had lost the badge, believedly through theft, something like eight years ago, and had j given up all hope of ever again finding the much-cherished possession.

PHOTOGRAPH WANTED "OLD TIGER" MAY REMEMBER The following inquiry from N. V. Wheeler, 28, Commercial Road, Grey Lynn, W. 2, may find a response from some former member of the Ist Battalion, Otago Regiment, of the last war:— » I would like to make an' inquiry through your columns re a photograph of the Ist Battalion, Otago Regiment, 1014- i 191 S. This was taken soon after we got to France. My paybooks shows 4/ to defray cost entered at Stienbecque, 26/4/IG, and I believe this was when we had the photograph taken. I have seen one of these in England belonging to a mate of mine who died on the Somme, so they evidently reached their destination in England, and 1 would like to find out if any of the photographs reached New Zealand with a view to having a copy taken off. It is going back a long way now, but perhaps some old "Tiger" or some relatives may be able to throw some light on my quest. I believe our padre at that time was Padre Burridge, who was to attend to the distributing of photographs. + + + + "MESSAGE RECEIVED" GREETINGS TO MIDDLE EAST On behalf of the Wellington Infantry and Mounted Regiments, a message was dispatched from the annual combined reunion to General Freyberg. V.C., and the Division in the Middle East. Mr. Ken Aekins has now received from Army Headquarters the following reply, sent by General Freyberg: "Have just received your message on behalf of Wellington Infantry and Mounted Regiments which will be published in orders and will give great satisfaction to all ranks." COMING EVENTS TAKAPUSA.—To-night, bowls, open night, mixed; Tuesday, club night bowls; Wednesday, executive meeting; Thursday, bowls, matches and practice; Friday, club night, bowls; Saturday, cards, bridge and 500. EDEN-lIOSKILL.—To-night, cards, progressive oOO; Tuesday, bowls, club nieht; Thursday., club old-time dance; Friuay, ' office, bowls, library; Saturday, cards, progressive 500. 1 BIRKENHEAD.—Thursday, guest night; Friday, indoor bowls tourney, open. GREY LYNN CLUB.—To-night, dsiice, also progressive bridge; Monday, whist; Tuesday. crib tourney; Wednesday, indoor bowls, open tourney; Thursday and Friday, members only; Saturday, indoor bowls, open tourney. GREY LYNN LADlES.—Wednesday, 8 p.m., progressive 500, St. Columba Hall; Thursday, 1.30 p.m., progressive 500, George Court's tea rooms. MOUNT ALBERT CLUB. — To-night, indoor bowls, open fours tourney, 7.30 p.m. sharp; Monday, indoor bowls, member and partner: Wednesday, bowls, open , drawn fours; Thursday, bowls, member and partner; Friday, members' night; Saturday, bowls committee meeting, 2 p.m.; Saturday, S p.m., cards, flag 500; library, Monday and Friday. DEVON PORT CLUB.—To-night, weekly dance, Forester's Hall, 8 p.m.; Monday, : general meeting. ONEHUN fciA R.S.A.—To-night, mixed indoor bowls, 8 p.m.; Monday, executive committee meeting, 7.30 p.m.; Tuesday, ' 11 a.m., ladies' indoor bowls; 2 p.m., ladies' knitting bee, comforts for Second N.Z.E.F.; evening, men's indoor bowls, ordinary draw, 8 p.m.; Wednesday afternoon, ladies' whist, 1.45 p.m.; evening, mixed indoor bowls; Thursday, weekly club dance, S p.m.; Friday, men's social evening; Saturday, fortnightly dance, 8 p.m. AVONDALE CLUB.—Wednesday, cards, ! 500; Thursday, women's section; Friday, L indoor Oddfellows' Hall; Saturday, [ members and wives. , TAMAKI ASSOCIATION. — Wednesday and Friday, indoor bowls, Parish Hall, ' 7:45 p.m.; Saturday, smoke concert, bowling pavilion, 8 p.m.; guests men of Second N.Z.E.F. on furlough in Tamaki district; 1 Saturday, September 11, monthly social 1 and dance, Parish Hall. NEWMARKET. —To-night, cards, 500; Sunday, full band parade, 10 a.m.; lion--1 day, bowls, club night; Tuesday and 1 Wednesday, cards, whist and 500; Thur.s----1 dav, ladies' night, bowls; Friday, bowls, '• club night; Monday, September 6, special 1 meeting, 8 p.m. 1 THE JOCKS.—To-night. Ingleside, Miss , McNaughton's Dance Hall, Wyndham ' Street, 8 o'clock. t REMUERA CLUB. — To-night, 7.45, ; monthly smoko, members Second N.Z.E.F. on furrough especially welcome; Tuesday, - 7.45 p.m., members' indoor bowling, with pins competitions; Wednesday, 1.30 p.m., J women's auxiliary; social afternoon and bring and buy; Thursday, 7.45 p.m., ladies , and gent's indoor bowling, with brooches f competitions. r N.Z. HOME SERVICE ASSN.—Dance, r Fabian Rooms, Monday, S p.m.