VETERANS’ REUNION

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 49, 21 November 1932, Page 8

VETERANS’ REUNION

Wellington Regiment Members COMRADES OF THE WAR Officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of the Wellington Regiment of the Expeditionary Force met for their annual reunion on Saturday evening. Mr. W. Perry presided, and among those present were Colonel W. 11. Cunningham, Colonel G. T. Hall, Captain L. Andrew, V,C., Lieutenant S. Frickleton, V.C., Sergeant-Major E. Bezar, aged 95, and officers of the present territorial unit. Apologies for absence were received from Major-General W. H. L. SinclairBurgess, General Officer Commanding the New Zealand Military Forces, General Sir Alfred Robin, LieutenantColonel H. E. Avery, and Major R. D. Hardy. In proposing the toast of "The Regiment,” Colonel Hall said that it had been fortunate in having for Its first commander a man who was a soldier aud a gentleman, who left his mark on the regiment—Colonel Malone. He had given it the traditions which its officers had carried out. “It was Colonel Malone who gave to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force ‘The Digger’s Hat,’ ” Colonel Hall said. “The peak was the shape of that peas near which he lived. Every other regiment had then adopted it. Two of its > strength, Andrew and Grant, had won the highest military decoration that it was possible to win, the Victoria Cross, and that was a cherished honour which was attached to the regiment.” In response, Colonel Cunningham traced the history of the regiment and commented upon the really. wonderful spirit which had animated it. The toast of “Fallen Comrades” was honoured with silence, at the conclusion of which Mr. G. R. Whaler sang “The Requiem.” Mr. 11. McCormick proposed the toast of “The Returned Soldiers’ Association.” and in his speech dealt particularly with the association’s work in providing a Christmas for those; families who would otherwise have no Christmas. In this direction the association was carrying out a very fine work indeed. Lieutenant-Colonel W. H. CoWlos, who responded, said that the membership was not. as high as the officers would like. Outlining the work of the association for the returned men, he mentioned the I’arnparaumu Soldiers’ Camp and the Otaki Health Camp, to which 20 children had been sent, for two months. Each year it distributed 100 Christmas hampers, and thus brought cheer to about 400 people. A collection was taken up in aid of the R.S.A. Christmas cheer fund. Items were given by Messrs. Harison Cook, R. Butler, A. J. Mazengarb, and R. G. Blow. Mr. E. E. Dean was accompanist.