NAVALS REUNION

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 141, 11 December 1935, Page 13

NAVALS REUNION

PETONE VOLUNTEERS

iQFi ft*T" hT? t years a e°'°n January 1, 1883, the Petone Naval Artillery Volunteers were formed, members from the ±iutt Valley having previously paraded in Wellington. The unit has suftered some changes in name, but is ?££ carrying on under the name of 17th Battery New Zealand Artillery having been variously described as the Naval Artillery Volunteers, No 2 Company Port Nicholson Artillery Volunteers, No. 5 Company, and New Zealand Garrison Artillery. Hutt Valley residents remember such events as the volunteers' annual ball « the excitement when the unit won the White Horse Cup for rowing, the Zealandia Cup for sailing, and the Artillery Shield for the best volunteer company in New Zealand. The Navals also created two world records for shooting, and often their cutters put out to sea to rescue someone in distress.

In the field members of the unit served with distinction and have won almost every decoration for valour awarded in the British Army, including the Victoria Cross, Military Cross, Distinguished' Conduct Medal, and the Military Medal. Many citizens have served with the unit, one of the most prominent being Captain R. C. Kirk, a former Mayo? of Petone, and the person primarily responsible for the recreation ground being set aside as a sports area Last Saturday the unit held a reunion at which many old friends met again and spent a pleasant arid enjoyable time. The roll was called for absent comrades, the members standing in silence, while the "ex-Navals" were toasted by members of the ; present unit, and the old members were urged to see that their sons joined up with the 17th Battery. . The following were present:—W M?dge (1912-15), A. E. Golding (ISS^ 1911). E. W. H. Gjersen (1911-15), L. W. Sutcliffe (1928-still serving) W Moreland (1908-14), V. Gamier (1933----still serving), J. Andersen (1933-stm serving), R. W. McKenzie (1933-still serving), E. Lambourn (1924-still serving), G. R. Cowie (1914-still servn!4 R,-/akef^ ld v (1908-14), R. J. Scott innof" stl An s, ervlng>- G. Johnston (1898----1903), A. May (1903-11), W. Martin (1908-11), H. Hardham (1910-24), R dge A (1914-17)> W- McGowan (1924-28), A. Morris (1898-1903), A Shadlow (1912-18), R. Shadlow (1900----24). J. D. Wolland (1913-16), J. Eagles »'w w- E Blsa^ JSKSffe 1900-08), F. Potter (1911-15), A. Wainwnght (1921-24), R. Bartley (1931-still serving), E: Trevor (1935-still serving), ?i- o £\^ arti n (18"-19H). A. McMilltn (1908-11), B. Florence (1916-18), E Ritzema (1933-still serving), K. Rigby (1911-15), E. Corner (1908-10), L. Martin (1906-15). C. Burd (1927-30), T C Fuller (1927-30).