MEDICAL UNITS’ REUNION

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27985, 4 June 1956, Page 7

MEDICAL UNITS’ REUNION

PARADF AT ST. JOHN’S CHURCH ADDRESS BY FORMER CHAPLAIN Co-operation, the essential element in all service, was only possible where there was trust and confidence and when all carried out their jobs with their utmost ability, said the Rev. H. F. Harding, M.8.E.. D. 5.0.. when speaking to members of the New Zealand No. 1 Mobile Casualty Clearing Station and the No 1 Motor Ambulance Convoy, at St. John’s Church, yesterday morning. Mr Harding, who is now living in Dunedin, was chaplain to the casualty clearing station during the desert campaign in the Second World War. “They knew well this co-operation in the casualty clearing station,” he said. “Surgeons, sisters, orderlies, ambulancemen and the blood transfusion unit all did their utmost to serve, rising to every crisis and emergency with goodwill to give all they had to njeet the necessities of God’s suffering sons.” Only in danger did man really know something of the peace of God and joy in the compensation of Jesus, he said. Everyone had some job to do that only he himself could carry out. and to give full co-operation he must have a personal sense of readiness to do his best. Mr Harding said. “If we take God into partnership at a’l a times. He will uphold, sustain and gtiide us. If our cares and responsibilities are shared with Him we shall go forward with undaunted confidence.” The service was conducted by the vicar of St. John’s Church (the Rev. D. D. Thorpe). Lessons were read by Messrs V. Ackroyd and R. Wesney. About 50 men and women, may of them visitors to Christchurch for the reunion of the New Zealand No. 1 Mobile Casualty Clearing Station and the No. 1 Motor Ambulance Convoy took part in the church parade. Before the service a wreath was laid on the war memorial in the Cathedral grounds by Mrs N. Hutchinson and Miss I. G. Olorenshaw. former nursing sisters with the mobile casualty clearing station. At the memorial a short service was conducted by Mr Harding A scenic bus drive round the Summit road was held yesterday afternoon tor those attending the reunion.