OLD COMRADES

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 18, 22 January 1940, Page 5

OLD COMRADES

HAPPY REUNION

AGELESS FRIENDSHIPS

Forty, fifty, and sixty years ago the young men of New Zealand gave service in. the colony's .defence force, the Armed Constabulary, and later the Royal New Zealand Artillery, and friendships made in.that service proved: -as abiding as ever when upwards of «te hundred members of the New Zealand Permanent Forces Old Comrades' Association met in Wellington on-Saturcfay night for their Centennial: reunion;. " »• : Proceedings commenced' with the loyal toast, other toasts were honoured, items were enjoyed, but the most enjoyable feature of the reunion was the'renewal of friendships made on service. Visitors were present from Auckland, Wanganui, Christchurch, and Duhedin. Mr. J. Spence presided. Members of the Armed Constabulary present were Messrs. C. Grey (90 years), G.-ODavey (88), J. Cameron (88), W. J". Anderson (85), F. O'Leary (84), H. Poole. (84), W. Carrol (82), W. P. Fatton (82), G. Winter (82), H. C. Peterseri (82), J. Siddells^SO), G.Bal-: four ,(8p), W. M. McAnnerin, (80), and T. P:"Huston (77): ; Mr. Carrol flew from Dunedin to ,be present, and Mr. Davey had the distinction of celebrating the seventieth anniversary of his joining the Armed Constabulary, he being tEe sole sur-; vivor of the First Maori War. The toast "Old Comrades" was proposed by Captain J.. P. JOyce, D.C.M.; who commented i on the spirit that drew members of the association together'at reunions.: Those present had established traditions in the past and those traditions were, being carried on today. .Five officers and fifty other ranks of. the R.N.Z .A. were . serving with the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. . ■> v -

Colonel H; E., Pilkinton replied and referred to the work the association was-doing and to the way in which its membership was growing. The reunion hadbeien put back to coincide with the .Centennial Exhibition and the large number; of pioneers of New Zealand's defence forces present justified the change! . ( f - .■ ? Other toasts honoured were the B.S;A;'^(proposed by Mr. L. Inkster and ifeplied to by Lieut.-Colonel A. CoWles, V.D.), the R.N.ZA. (Captain H. C.-Petersen—^Captain C. H. Gallagher^ "The" Press" and "The Artists.."-.{;.,:. -.' .•. ~ ■■ ■,- . .■. N- . ' •

During the evening the Police Orchesstija - supplied; rmusic and, a iiumber of enjoyable musical and elocutionary items; were; given-; by members. The i arrangements were in; the hands of the: : association's; secretary; Mr. A. Thomson, who was assisted;by a willing committee. ..;•.,. v- v .' -i . t