ANNUAL REUNION

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 119, 16 November 1936, Page 6

ANNUAL REUNION

A HAPPY FUNCTION

THE WELLINGTON REGIMENT

The eleventh annual reunion of the Wellington Regiment, N.Z.E.F.,,. was held on Saturday night. Mr. W. J. McKeon presided over a good attendance, and a most enjoyable evening was spent in reminiscence and story.

Proposing the toast of "The Regiment," Lieutenant-Colonel A. Cowles, V.D., said that the men of that unit had been drawn from the Territorials and recruits of the Wellington district. It had been with great pride that those at home had followed the doings of the Wellington men. His only regret was that the sth Regiment, which had been away in Samoa, had not been included in the regiment for the front.

Replying, Mr. G. McSaveney eulogised the work of the late Colonel Malone in the early days of the regiment. He had literally built the regiment up, Mr. McSaveney said, but he could not have done it without the material he had had.

The toast of "Fallen Comrades," proposed' by the chairman, was honoured by two minutes' silence, after which Mr. R. G. Blow sang "Requiem" and Mr. F. C. Chegwin sounded "Reveille."

Mr. G. Weir, in proposing "The R.5.A.," said that there was a fear in the back of their minds that as things improved economically there would be less need for the R.S.A. They were all growing" older, however, and the association was still a very necessary organisation for them. He spoke of the scheme whereby the R.S.A. distributed cheer to needy returned men at Christmas time and urged those present to assist in the work. R.S.A. MEMBERSHIP. In reply, the Hon. W. Perry, M.L.C., said that the R.S.A. had been formed in 1916. It was a wonderful thing, he said, that the men who had founded the association, Messrs. J. Harper and C. W. Batten, were still on the headquarters executive. He summarise;! the work of the association, mentioning especially pensions and the legislation passed in that connection. For the last five or six years, he said," the association had been distributing between £43,000 and £45,000 a year. In urging those who were not members to join up, Mr. Perry said that, whereas the membership of the association had, a few years ago, been 6700; the number v.-as now 30,000. It was intended to present a portrait of Sir Andrew Russell to the National Art Gallery, and he hoped all returned men would subscribe. \ '■ '•

Proposing the toast of "The Navy," Colonel W. H. Cunningham, D.5.0., said that, being British, they were proud of the Navy, and proud to have served side by side with naval, men. The Navy was riot as strong as it had been in 1914, however, and it was the duty of all Britishers to see that its former strength was restored.

Lieutenant-Commander ,J. S. Head, speaking in reply, said that although the pendulum had swung very much to one side in the Navy, it had now started to swing back. Commander Head went on to express his appreciation of New Zealand. He had heard this country praised at Home, he said, and had since decided that that praise had not been extravagant. Since he had been out here he had formed three impressions of New Zealanders: their loyalty, their cheerfulness; and their sense of humour.

The chairman, in proposing the toast of "Mr. C. Broad," stressed the fine work he had done in arranging the reunion. Mr. Broad replied. During the evening items were supplied by Messrs. R. G. Blow, J. Osborne, E. E. Deane, R. Williams, K. Rigby, and R. Bouverie.