N.Z. SOLDIERS' CLUB IN LONDON.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16506, 25 April 1919, Page 8

N.Z. SOLDIERS' CLUB IN LONDON.

A MARK OF GRATITUDE,

(fEOH oxm OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

LONDON, March 7. At the New Zealand Soldiers' .Club the other day, Brigadier-General G. S. Richardson, on the evo of leaving for New Zealand, was asked to make a presentation on behalf of the men of the N.Z.E.F. to Mr 11. H. Nolan, C.8.E., honorary secretary of the New Zealand Soldiers' Club in Russell street, and to Miss Ethel M. Burnett, who has been one of his principal helpers ever since the club was formed. There was a gathering of a hundred or so of the voluntary workers, and several members of tlie committee, and of the New Zealand Red Cross.

General Richardson said that in this matter ho could really speak from the bottom of his heart. When the men came to France from Gallipoli, he and others had strongly urged that New Zealand should put up its own institution and look after its own men in London. Mr Nolan had done this in a splendid way, and he and those working with him had made themselves to a very great extent the representatives of the parents of the boys. As a father he could realise what it meant to a boy to bo able to go to a place like this in London, which was as nearly as possible a home to him, and to find people like Mr Nolan and Miss Burnett and the other ladies, who were in every respect their friends. He was quite sure that thousands of men when they looked back upon the war had happy visions of this particular institution, where they were greeted as friends and comrades, and almost as relatives, were well looked after and well fed, so that there was no necessity for them to loiter about the streets. Miss Burnett, ho was certain, would have preferred to return to New Zealand quietly, merely with the satisfaction of a clear conscience in having done her best for the boys, but the presentation he was about t3 make emanated absolutely from the men themselves. He had often strolled into tlio club, and, after his manner, had gone straight into the kitchen, and he never failed to find Miss Burnett there right in the middle of the work, either day or night. (Loud applause) It made some of the men almost feel ashamed of what they themselves had done in the war compared with what some of the women had done.

The General then presented Mis 3 Burnett with an illuminated address and a purse of sovereigns. Mr Nolan, he said, lie always looked on as a personal friend, and there had been nothing but cordial relation? between them, because ho had always been so jolly good to the men. and any man who had been good to the men would have his first consideration. Mr Nolan had risked his health, sacrificed his own comfort in a way that deserved every praise. He was the diggers' friend, and they would always remember him as such. Not only had he looked after them at the club, but ho had snved their money for them, and many of them felt that they cculd not leave for homo without expressing; their gratitude to him. He presented Mr Nolan, also with an illuminated address.

Mr Nolan said he felt that he did not merit at all that had been said about him: what he had done had been a labour of love for his oWn country and for the Empire.' and the credit for the fiucccss of the club was largely due tu Mis.s Burnett and her noble band of helpers. Their one thought had been to work for the pood of the men and to keep the flag flying, and the men had respected them for it. Personally, he offered his heartfelt gratitude for the loyal assistance he had received. M'.ss Burnett had worked night and day. General Richardson had always given him the most helpful sympathy. His first thought was for the men. and what was best for them. Personally, he (the speaker) regretted that he waa'not feeing

demobilised at the same time that tho General was. He had hoped that tho General would be there as long as tho club was kept open. Miss Burnett said she was muchxnoro at home frying sausages and bacon than making speeches, but she must eay that the success of the club had been entirely due to tho various helpers they had had. While they had fed the men, Mr Nolan had looked after their money and had given them good advice.