TROOPER MACKENZIE ENTERTAINED

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3083, 14 May 1917, Page 3

TROOPER MACKENZIE ENTERTAINED

GUEST OP THE SOLDIERS' CLUB On Saturday evening Trooper Clutba Mackenzie, whom so many people in New Zealand are glad to welcome among them after lus experiences in tho war, was the guest of honour at the Soldiers' Club in Sydney Street. With Trooper Mackenzie came two other fellow-soldiers who have suffered severely in the service of their country. Corporal Lennard and Corporal i. M. Earle. Other guests who had been invited by the club committee to meot Trooper Mackenzie wero the members of the general committee of tho club and members of the Returned Soldiers' Club, and in addition there were also present the usual habitues of tho club, soldiers from the Trentham and Featherston Camps, a considerable number of whom arrived later in the evening.

A musical programme bad been arranged, and though perhaps .somewhat brief, was excellent, and was thoroughly ly enjoyed. Mr. Hamilton Hodges, Miss Phoebe Parsons, Miss Wilson, and Miss Knight sung some delightful songs, and later the ladies sang duets, trios, and choruses, the soldiers present all joining in. Miss Rathbono also took part in the singing.

The informal talk which Trooper Mackenzie gave later in the evening upon life at St. Duustan's Hospital and matters in conneotion with the "Chronicles of the N.Z.E.F." was very interesting, and was greatly enjoyed. Before he was allowed to speak, the audience sung "For he's a. jolly good fellow," and warmly applauded him.

That loss of sight should bo entitlod to more sympathy than many other deprivations suffered in consequenco of the war the speaker would not allow, and when one of tho soldiers present ejaculated "You're too modest" when he was minimising tho disadvantages, Trooper 'Mackenzie emphatically replied: "I am not modest."

Proceeding with his talk, the returned soldier outlined the wonderful work for • blinded soldiers that was done at St. Dunstan's. There were about-600 soldiers there, of whom at the present time ten were New Zealanders. They were all being helped to readjust themselves to their altered conditions of life. Braille was taught them (and Braille ho was by no means in love with as a subject to learn). "If you had a prayer book given you in Braille, and you wanted to take it to church with you you would have to have it wheeled there," he told his audience. Trades—bootmaking, bas-ket-making, carpentering, ef(c., etc., were tauglit, and typing, massage, poultry-farming, market gardening, and many other occupations. Of Sir Arthur Pearson, the founder and controller of St. Dunstan's, Trooper Mackenzie spoko in high terms of praise.

"People have such fallacious ideas in regard to blindness," he said, "and Sir Arthur Pearson often received invitations from people asking that different officers might visit them for v a while. Tho host or hostess would say that they would do everything for their guests—wash their faces, comb their hair, bath them, and put them to bed. Nothing would bo left undone; and you know it was quite unnecessary. Wo can do all that. When one was out in the streot, and wanted to get into a taxi, throe or four people would rush forward, catch one's arms_ and_ logs, and almost lift ono bodily into it. It was an embarrassment of riches in the way of help."

While they worked at St. Dunstan's tliey also played, and the social lifo of the pjaoo was very pleasant'. _ Sport held its placo there, as it did elsewhere, and by no means ono of tho least of the compensation's to tho soldiers who bad lost their sight was the privilego of being read to by a nico girl, as they often were. Sometimes, it was true, accidents would happen through not being ablo to seo; and he told of ono that happened when ho went to church one Sunday. Ho ararrived there somewhat late, when a hymn was being sung, and as he stood up after having been shown into a pow, he felt his arm pulled, and thinking it was tho collection-plate, ho pulled out a coin, and carefully placed it on a. hymn book which a lady, his next door neighbour, not noticing his blindness, had placed in front of nim. However, it was useful later on in tho service.

Trooper Mackenzie also spoko of the "Chronicles of the N.Z.E.F.," started about nine months ago as a hobby by Corporal Lennard and himself. It had since been an endless source of interest and amusement to them both, and it had already met with much success. Its aim was to keep tho various units of tho Force stationed in different parts of the world in touch with one another, and to let men know where their friends were in hospital, and their progress. Through the "Chronicles" much information would be gained by tho New Zealand public of the life of the men on active service, and of many other things that wore more or less unknown at the present time.

'fiesftiro ending Ms _ Italic, Trooper Mackenzie spoke of their visit to America, of which they tried to learn as much as possible during their stay of a fow days there. He was greatly amused at the story of the wonderful adventures that befelthe steamer while on lis way to America, which appeared in the papers. They were of a very startling nature, and curiously enough till that moment were quite unknown to them all. Those submarine adventures filled quite two columns of the paper. Trooper Mackenzie himself was described as an Apollo—(Cries of Hear! Hoar! from the audience) — though somewhat worn and baggard looking, and with, a look of hopeless resignation upon his face.

At Richmond (Virginia), wheu sightseeing, one of the little party of soldiers got into trouble through his sense of humour. sight of a sentry on _ duty, marching up and down with his hands in ■ his pockets, his knife dangling at the *back, and chewinggum as hard'as lie could, proved irresistible,., and a snapshot was taken. As a result the New Zealander was brought before the authorities for doing such _ a thing, and was asked why ho did it. The answer was frank and free: "I did it becauso I thought it tho funniest sight I had seen in my life." • With a little delay and further explanations he was allowed his freedom, and the sight-seeing proceeded.

Other matters were touched upon, and at the close of his talk, which was warmly applauded, Mrs. Coleridge, the acting-president, in. thanking Trooper Mackenzie for what he had told them all, said that he had indeed (quoting the words of one of the songs sung by' Mr. Hamilton Hodges that n ; ght) brought a bit of sunshine, indeed a large amount of sunshine, to the cuib, and they all felt the better for it. One of the returned comrades of Trooper Mackenzie had told the latter that he was too modest about himself, and jet that soldier (Corporal J. Earle) wis extremely reticent himself. He hi\u been mentioned in dispatches three times, and had also been recommended for the Military Medal.

Following .upon Mrs. Coleridge's speech of thanks, Mrs. 0. Earle drew the attention of the gathering; to the "Chronicles of the N.Z.E.F.," and of the wide and varied itnerests they represented, as well as the information given of our soldiers abroad. She made an appeal for its support among the people of this country, for subscriptions were needed to keep such a paper

going. Kb profits were made by it, and in these times they were hardly likely to bo made. Supper was • m charge of the Khandallah ladies, and a most interesting and informal evenirg was ended by the singing of the National Anthem and tlireo cheers for tho guest of the evening—Trooper Clutlia. Mackenzie.