OTAGO UNITS

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 104, 4 May 1936, Page 3

OTAGO UNITS

WELLINGTON EX-MEMBERS

REUNION ARRANGED

Those who served with, units drawn from Otago and Southland during'the Great War were represented in the Anzac Day parade in. .Wellington by about fifty men, and after the parade these met and set up a coirjnittee to arrange for a reunion of ex-members of Otago units in and around Wellington. ' It is estimated that there are several hundred men- from the Otago units within the- Wellington district. .. '-.-•■•'. The reunion, which is to be held in the rooms, of the Legion of Frontiersmen on Thursday, May 28, will b« similar to the reunions of other units arranged in the past. It will be the first held by Otago units in Wellington, and consequently an opportunitywill be given during the-evening for old comrades to meet and exchange reminiscences. When past experiences are recalled the reputation of the Otago Battalion is almost certain to be mentioned, as ex-members are still proud of the fact hat-their- unit had. the-unenviable name, ■ "The Suicide Battalion." The Otago. Battalion was probably one of the most unlucky in the New Zealand Division as it -frequently got into trouble and suffered heavy casualties from the days of Gallipoli until the Armistice. Its troubles, however, ■ were due to no fault of : its own, and the- men of .the battalion-grew proud of the heavy punishment they received, while giving just as good, if not bettter.

The reunion committee, with' Mr. G. A. Vincent as secretary, considers that the preservation of the spirit of comradeship so evident during the war years is well worth while and is attempting to get into touch with as many ex-members of the "Suicide Battalion" and other Otago units as possible, before the time for the reunion arrives. Mr. Vincent has already received advice from a large number who intend to be present and is locating others through the Wellington Returned Soldiers' Association and.other channels. !