OFFICER HONOURED

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 91, 19 April 1939, Page 17

OFFICER HONOURED

ENGINEERS' UNIT -

MAJOR BEACH FAREWELLED

. Regret at the departure of a popular officer was expressed at' a dinner in the United Services' Club on Mondaynight when officers and guests of the 2nd Field Company, New Zealand Engineers, met to say farewell to Major C. H. Beach, who has resigned' command of the company before leaving to take up an engineering appointment at Suva, Fiji. The table was decorated with the blue and red of the .sappers' colours. Captain H. I. Hubbard was mess president and Lieutenant F. H. Stewart vice-president.

Captain Hubbard, who succeeds Major Beach as commanding officer of the unit, said that the officers, n.c.o.s and men deeply regretted his departure. He had worked indjefatigably in the promotion of the welfare of the unit and had always endeavoured to inculcate the traditions of the sappers into new recruits and to foster the Territorial spirit generally during the difficult years when public interest in military affairs had lapsed. Major Beach was leaving the unit with the knowledge that it was now in the best position it had enjoyed for manyyears. The'present strength was now 15 per cent, above the peace establishment, and a fourth section was in process of formation with a full complement of officers.

Captain Hubbard, on behalf of the unit, wished "Major and Mrs. Beach "bon voyage" and the best wishes for the future.

Replying, Major Beach thanked Captain Hubbard and said that engineering had always captured his interest, both as a job and a hobby. While Captain Hubbard had pointed out the difficulties which were predominant during the earlier years of his command, he felt that a much more difficult time awaited the unit ahead, and that the present fine state of the unit could not be due entirely to his own efforts. He emphasised the value of the work of the staff publicity officers and the Territorial publicity officers, in particular the work of the unit publicity officer, Lieutenant V. F. Connolly. He was sure that Captain Hubbard would be accorded the same measure of support from the officers and n.c.o.s as he had received,- he said, in wishing the unit success in the future.

The guests included LieutenantColonel R. A. Row, D.S.Q., N.Z.5.C.,, Central Military District Headquarters, Major F.; L. Hunt, N.Z,S,C, area staff officer, Major K. F. Butcher, a former commanding officer of the 2nd Field Company, N.Z.E,, and Lieutenant J. Brooke-White, N.Z.S.C., engineer staff;.. officer, Army Headquarters, -

Officers' of the unit present were Captain E. I. Hubbard, second in command, Lieutenant P, G. Monk, N.Z.S,C., adjutant, Lieutenant A, R. Harris, assistant adjutant, and Lieutenants H. A. Jones, V. F. Connolly, R. Pemberton, and F. H. Stewart.

Major Beach later left with his officers to attend -his-last parade with the unit at Buckle Street, and, after a farewell speech, presented a handsome silver cup to be awarded annually to the most efficient junior n.c.o.