Boer War Veterans At Tiny Reunion

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30147, 3 June 1963, Page 10

Boer War Veterans At Tiny Reunion

The words “They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old” had a ven read meaning toe the handful of men who fell in for ttbt Boer War commemoration service m Victoria square yesterday afternoon. It was the sixty-second anniversary of the signing of the South African War peace treaty, and none of the veterans was younger than 78 One wae 86 Nearly 10.000 New Zealanders went to the South African War. but there are only 987 left in New Zealand now.

The 26 men who made up the tattle column (there were others there, but unable to march) did not go far—ji»t around the corner from Armagh street and on to the grass plot in front of Queen Victoria’s statue

The voice of their chaplain. Canon R O Williams, was sometimes lost in the grumble of diesel buses—noises completely foreign to the horse-and-buggy age he was recalling as he spoke of the relevance of commemorating the war. *

“It is relevant." he said, “only in so far as we use it as • moment of dedication to work with all our power against the warlike spirit, and dedicate ourselves to work in the ways of peace ” The theme was taken up by the Veterans’ Association's president <Mr R. Hayes) when the men went back to Jellicoe Hall to sing songs

such as ‘Pack Up Your Troubles" and “Tipperary.'' “When Queen Victoria’s statue was dedicated," he said. "I remember Colonel Snow said that we couldn't do without wars and that we’d always have them. Then Tommy Taylor—l don’t know if he was Mayor of the town at the time—said that we wouldn't nave any more wars; we'd have law's instead He proved pretty far out m his idea of what would happen in the future.’’

Mr J. A Gregor, the association’s secretary, believes it will be only another three or four years before the annual services come to an end. "Time must take its toll.” he said, as be looked around the little gathering He counted 50 veterans there