THE SAMOAN FORCE

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 49, 27 August 1934, Page 5

THE SAMOAN FORCE

FOURTEENTH REUNION

LARGE ATTENDANCE

There was an attendance of some hundred members of tho advance party of tho Main Body of tho New Zealand Expeditionary Forces, better known as the Samoan Expeditionary Force, attho fourteenth reunion on Saturday night at tho Dominion Farmers' Institute.

Tho chairman (Colonel A. Cowles) recalled the brighter patches of their days in Samoa, paying high tributes to the Samoan people". It had been then' job to collar the wireless. "We did it in proper style," he said. "We did what wo were told to do, and brought 1400 men back again, and if that is not a war I do not know what, a war is.". On behalf of the Samoan committee he wished them long lives and the best of everything. A large number of letters were read from members unable to be present.

During a brief business interlude Coltmcl E. S. McQuarrie was elected chairman for the year.

Proposing the toast of "The Samoan Expeditionary ..Force," Colonel McQuarrio said that the first men to got into the ivar in New Zealand were worthy of praise for the manner in which they switched from a civilian life to become" soldiers in such a short time. Though later it galled them that others wore going to Europe, they did not complain. In fact, practically every man of the Samoan force enlisted in some other unit later. He dealt with the naval position in the Pacific at the time, and sai'd that tho Samoan-force was not a military expedition exactly, being merely tho helpmates of the Navy. Mr. G. 11. "Weir humorously responded, recalling incidents which brought, the gathering into a harmonious condition to enjoy tho remainder of the evening ill reminiscence and story. Among the toasts . honoured wore "Fallen Comrades," proposed by the chairman, "Kequiom" being sung by Mi\. K. Bigby and "Tho Sisters," proposed by Mr. H. Stubbs and responded to by Sister Brandon. ■ During the evening items of entertainment were supplied by Messrs. Eigby,' E. Williams, T. Bohlson, and Wallerhiah, and the old Samoan songs were sung, the accompaniments being played by Mrs. Wallerman. Mr. H. Baker and party, comprising members of the original band of tho force, gave a number of selections.