SOUTH AFRICAN VETERANS.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19786, 26 November 1929, Page 11

SOUTH AFRICAN VETERANS.

MEMORIAL SERVICE IN LONDON. GENERAL HAMILTON PAYS TRIBUTE. (aimsß orriOAi wiMiMS.) (Received November 25th, 5.5 p.m.) RUGBY, November 24. The first annual memorial service of the South African War Veterans' Association, of which Field-Marshal Lord Methune is president, was held at the Horseguards' Parade, London, to-day. The men were inspected by General Sir lan Hamilton. Addressing the company, General Hamilton said: I always used to say that we are the lads who fought with White, Buller, Methune, Roberts, BadenPowell, and other warriors of great renown at Elandslaagte, Waggon Hill, Pieter's Heights, Paardeberg, and Diamond Hill. We are old soldiers who, once upon a time, on half rations, played hide-and-seek with Christian de Wet until our feet were bleeding and our clothes in rags. W T e are proud to stand here, representing 20,000 soldiers who gave their lives for the agreed Peace of Vereeniging, and the smaller our numbers the greater each man's share of honour. The Vereeniging Peace was an achievement equal to that of the million dead who are represented by the Treaty of Versailles. Still our tally holds every time. He added: You speak kindly or think kindly of Brother Boer, who used to shoot at us all the time and hit us pretty often. You are helping to keep South Africa happy and united, and what better monument could our fallen comrades desire? Led by General Hamilton, the veterans marched to the Cenotaph, where General Hamilton placed a wreath on behalf of the Association. EAST AFRICAN CAMPAIGN. RIVAL LEADERS TO MEET. (BRITISH OFHCUX WIRELESS.) (Received November 25th, 5.5 p.m.) RUGBY, November 24. General Smuts, who commanded the British troops in East Africa during the war. will, on December 2nd, meet hi« former adversary, General von Lettow Vorbeck, who commanded the German troops in that sphere of operations. The occasion will be the East African campaign dinner. Invitations to General Lettow to fittend the dinner and meet General Smuts were proposed when General Smuts was in London in 1923 attending the Imoerial Conference, but the plan fell through owing to General Smuts not. having: sufficient time before returning to South Africa. Several British officers who had been in the East African campaign were consulted by Captain Lloyd, who was the originator of the proposal, and they were not only unanimous, but enthusiastic in approving of sending an invitation to General Lettow.