SECOND BRIGADE

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 133, 9 June 1930, Page 11

SECOND BRIGADE

FOURTH ANNUAL REUNION

KETUKNED SOLDIERS FOREGATHER

About 160 members attended the fourth, annual reunion of tlie Second (Army) Brigade, New Zealand .Field Artillery, held in tho Community Hall on Saturday night. Licut.-Coloucl N. 8. FaJla, C.M.G., D.5.0., occupied the chair. Among others present were: Lieut.Colonel Syinon, C.M.G., D.5.0.; LicutColoMl 11. E. Avery, C.M.G., D.5.0.; Lieut.-Colonel M'Quarric, D.5.0., M.C.; Major-General K. Young, C.8., C.M.G., D.5.0.; Colonel W. H. Cunningham, D.S.Cv; Captain S. K. Middletou, D.5.0., U.N.; Wing-Comma lidcr S. Graut-Dal-ton, D.5.0., A.F.C., K.A.i1.; CnpUin Steduian, and Culonel Petherick. Colonel Falla, in proposing the toast of "".fallen Comrades," said that each man jtresent would recall his particular friend, and if their comrades were present a-t the reunion, each in turn would be proud of their sacrifice. All present stood in silent tribute while .Mr. J. D. Hislop sang "Requiem," which was followed by the "Last Post" and "lleveille," sounded by ScrgeautMa.jor Baker. '■ Mr. G. H. Boag then presented Colonel JTalla with a souvenir programme. In thanking Mr. Boag, Colonel Falla said it was a very, natural thing for people to attend an exclusive gathering swell as the reunion was, as all who attended had a right to be present by dint of service abroad.- There were men present from Auckland, Dnnediii. Hastings, Timaru, and in fact, from all parts of New Zealand.

LieMienant-Colonci Syinon, who commanded tho First Brigade during the war, proposed tho toast of the Second Brigade. He said it was sufficient to say tliat tho brigade did its job during the war, and did it to satisfaction. In mentioning the men of tho brigades of Great Britain, who upheld their end of the stick, no matter where they were, Colonel Syinon said it was the same with tho men of the Second Brigade,, who uphold their end of the stick, both in tho Great War and in the Boer War. "The brigade owes a great deal to Lieutenant-Colonel IP. B. Sykes, who first commanded it, and to Colonel Falla, who has since fashioned it," said ColonoJ Symon.

Lieutenant-Colonel M'Quarrie, in response, said that no poor words of his could add to tho lustre- of Colonel Sylses's name. He was a gallant couimaudof, and no man ever lost who was under ''his leadership. Colonel M'Quarrie spoke- of "those glorious years of tho war," and said that the men who wont through'the war were the salt of the earth. 'Two things that impressed mo with regard to the Second Brigado and the Artillery," said tho speaker, "was the mutual respect one brigado and battery hud for each other, and the fact that there was never any jealousy between them. Tho other thing was the respect and mutual confidence between the artillery and the infantry of the New Zcjaland Division. We as gunners knew tiat the infantry loved us, and we were never so happy as when we had the infantry supporting us, because we knew v?o could always rely on them," concluded Colonel M'Quarrie.

The toast, "Army, Navy, and Air Force/ was proposed by LicutcnautColonc? Avcry, who said that the reunion 'was hold on a very appropriate day, as Saturday was the thirteenth annivei-sary of the Battle of Messines. Colonel Avcry spuko of tlio lino spirit of camaraderie that, existed between the three services. ,

Responding on behalf of the Navy, Captain Middlcton said that in the Great ''War the Army, Navy, and Air Force got on very well together, and he felt svurc that if there were another war, the same feeling of goodwill would prevail.

On behalf of the Air Force, WingCommaiider Grant Dalton said that the Air Force of New Zealand was very small, lout small as it was, the men concerned were a very keen and efficient lot, and their chief duty was to cooperate -with the Army and the Navy. "The Ah- Force is the Cinderella of the Services," said the speaker. ■ "It has had many stones thrown at it, but at the present time, however, things are going very smoothly."

Captain Stedman also spoke on behalf of the Air Force.

During- the evening several musical items wore contributed.