DIGGERS MEET

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 127, 25 November 1938, Page 15

DIGGERS MEET

UNIQUE VISIT

WESTRALIA MEN

A visit unique in the history of the Wellington Returned Soldiers' Association took place yesterday afternoon when the first branch of tlie Returned Sailors' and Soldiers' Imperial League of Australia formed at sea was entertained by Wellington returned soldiers. The visitors formed their branch on the Westralia some years ago and one of their members, who transferred to a Sydney-Vancouver vessel about eighteen months ago was responsible for the formation of the only other floating branch of the league.

Before being entertained at the headquarters of the Wellington Returned Soldiers' Association yesterday, the eighteen men who came ashore paraded at the Wellington Citizens' War Memorial to place a wreath in the Shrine of Remembrance. They were accompanied by their own bugler, who played the "Last Post" and "Reveille" after the wreath had been placed by the president of the floating branch, Mri F. Wensley, and a period of silence was observed while the banner of the branch, which was borne by the secretary, Mr. H. Hammond, was lowered in salute.

When the visitors reached the R.S.A. rooms they were welcomed by the president of the Wellington Association, Lieut-Colonel A; Cowles, V.D., who assured them that New Zealand "Diggers" would always regard their Australian comrades as brothers and asked them to enjoy an informal hour with the New Zealanders present. Later Colonel Cowles presented a copy of. the Carillon booklet to Mr. Wensley and told the visitors that the Wellington Association would like to have a photograph of the Wellington memorial hung in the branch's messroom on the Westralia. COMRADES REMEMBERED. Mr. Wensley thanked the New Zealanders for the opportunity given to the visitors to meet their comrades ashore and to pay a .tribute to the memory of New Zealand's dead. The regular run of the Westralia was from Sydney to Perth, he said, and they had visited every available^ memorial at their ports of call and they appreciated the opportunity to do the same at Wellington. They hoped to pay a similar tribute at the war memorial in Auckland when they called there in December. Their floating association had proved a great boon to them, and had enabled them to make friends with many "Diggers" who were travelling. He appealed to all New Zealand returned soldiers to wear their badges when travelling so that their Australian comrades would know them.

Another member of the party remarked that "Diggers" who were known by "Digger" stewards on board would get chicken when they asked for it and not something that was supposed to be chicken.

€Cach member of the party expressed the hope that he would be able to visit New Zealand in 1940.