STRENUOUS DAYS RECALLED

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 275, 14 August 1920, Page 7

STRENUOUS DAYS RECALLED

T-r fr- . EBUNION OF IST ISATTEIti". Memories of strenuous days en Gallipoli and in France were recalled at a reunion of members of the leL liattery, Xew Zealand Field Artillery, held at Dustin's ltooms, Cuba Street,' last night. There was an attendance af about 60," and Colonel E. it. Northeroft, D.5.0.,' presided.

The principal toast of the,, evening was the "!at liattery, N.Z.F.A.," proposed by Mr. G. Lyon, JI.C. lie said ho felt sure that they were all proud of having belonged to the leading battery, which was formed in September, 1914, at Awapuni, Colonel Symon, D.S.O. (then Major Symon) beiug_ in charge. Soon after the landing on Gallipoli the battery passed to the command of the late Major M'Gilp, D.5.0., Major Symon having been promoted LieUt-Colonel in charge of the Field Artillery Erigado. All.the 'old hands" had nothing ' but kindly remembrances of •Major M'Gilp; for be was heart and soul in the battery, and was never tired of doing hie utmost to build up its reputation for. good shooting 1 .and perfect discipline. The battery took part in the hoavy Aniae fighting, making a tplendid name for itself by its quick and accurate shooting. It was during the big attack on Lone Pino that the Ist.Battery really came into its own, lor there the work, done po good, that General Sir lan Hamilton felt impelled to mention tho battery specially in his dispatches. At the evacuation' the battery upheld its reputation, and safely removed its guns from BusaeH's Top. The wort" of bringing the guns down the hill and embarking them on the waiting pontoons was svperintended by Lieutenant Newman, one of tho finest officers the battery every had. (Applause.) After proceeding to Franco' the personnel of the battery changed a, g'ftod deal during the long period of trench warfare, from April, 1916, to March. 1918. The .days on the Somme were most Btrcnu- ; ous, and many well-known names wero marked off the battery roll.- The year 1917 was a great one for the Artillery. Long hours of dutyj shifts round, plenty of shelling, and hand work, cheet fully endured,' was the "rder r.f the day* IVhcn having a spell out of' the line at Merck the battery "won a 'fine oun and a 2M-franc prize f or ti ie | JGB t section of Artillery at the ft>rps Show. At Passchen-. dacle, in common with the other batteries of the Ist Brigade, th» battery milfvi-d heavily vinAcv the vAH\\»h.«\? fvt < f th» Boschc. Armistice Day found the battery close up to the, heels of the retreating Huns. Like most of tho other batteries of the division, it'clnimod the last shot of the 'war. (Laughter.) -Mr. Lyons concluded hy 'mentioning the excellent reputation the bat fry earned in Germany, and by reealliiur the.names cr.somn cf the ninst uonular members cf .the unit.

iSevpral' other tonstß were honoured during the evening, tncludine:/'Fallen Comrades,". "Army .'Nursimr Service," "Comrades of the Great.••'War." .awl 'Absent, Ones." . The musical nart <,f the nro.gramme' was contributed by Mcssr*. Stringer. Xorthcroit.rU'iuiclt, and ,T. Duncan.