WAR DAYS RECALLED

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 48, 26 February 1940, Page 5

WAR DAYS RECALLED

N.Z.E.F. SIGNALLERS

A HAPPY REUNION

Happy memories of the days of th« Great War were revived at a splendidly attended reunion dinner of members of the Divisional Signal Company, the Mounted Signal Troop, and the Wireless- Troop, of the First New Zealand Expeditionary Force, held -in the Kelburn Kiosk on Saturday night. The function, which had been arranged as a Centennial gathering, was attended by approximately 250 ex-Sig-nallers and was a wonderful success, the old spirit of camaraderie,, so pronounced amongst the Divisional Signallers, being very much in evidence as contacts and friendships first made a quarter of a century or so ago were re-established. With many, of course, the passage of time had brought its changes, and it was not always possible to recall a name immediately although the face might seem familiar, but once the roll had been called recognitions and recollections,came thick and fast. ■ - < The chairman was Mr. P. F. Coira, whose many amusing quips at appropriate times, raised -roars of merriment. ' . After the loyal toast had been honoured, Mr. Coira expressed the deep appreciation of the committee for the wonderful response which had been made to the invitation's for the gathering, saying that it had exceeded all expectations. He read a number of telegrams of apology from ex-Signal-lers in other parts of the Dominion who found it impossible to^be ;present, including a batch from Auckland, .and raised a loud laugh when he remarked, !'lt would not be Auckland if they didn't send something bigger thaii anybody else." Mr.; Coira also read messages of good will which had taeen sent to reunion gatherings of t)ie ;Artillery and Engineers- which were 'also being held that night. ;.. ■. // Reference was made ,by Mr. Coira 'to the Signallers of the Second N.Z.E.F. he had seen at Treritham; where he is now the camp postmaster, and said, amidst applause, that,he had no doubt in his mind that they• would uphold thfe traditions of the • old Divisional Signal company. MANY GALLANT-MEN. V ; The toast of "The. Signal Services* was proposed by Major J. L. McAlister, M.C., who said that the Divisional Signallers were the first unit of'the N.Z.E.F.. in the Great War to win a Victoria Cross, -that honour —- having been awarded to Corporal- Cyril Btfssett on Gallipoli. The Signallers hid built up a really, imposingl list ' .'of awards and decoration's for gallantry in the field and they were well' knd truly earned,' (Applause.) He too, felt sure that the' men of the Spconi N.Z.E.F. would carry on the tradition* of; the old n.z.e,r " •■■■;■•;; .; ■ ;;;.;;■';• Reply to the .toast; was . made -by Messrs. W. F. keht-Johriston, . R. .G. Patrick (Mounted Signal Troop), and A. W. MaNfeish (Wireless Troop)!-•' Mr. Patrick mentioned that. although j.the establishment of .the Signal. Scoop had been only 32, that unit had suffered,l42 casualties, including,.quite1 a:nurnter killed. It had' also been awarded '•■ a D.5.01., five M.C.s, a D.C.M., and sevlh or eight MJVT.sy while a number of 'its members had gained cbmrnissions arid been posted to various other, uriits.'- i .. Mr,. W. ;F;,-Stil^eli^.;S^v'.^% ■.&!•/>•• posed the t6astlof':"Thelyisit6rs,"\ enlivened, the - gathering with a-number of humorous reminiscences of therda^s spent at Armehtieres; and1 'extended cordial greetings' to the menwhov .had come from other parts of the.Dorfiinion. 'Messrs. G. McDonald, Kent-Johnston, and R. Talboys replied, the firtt-riarhed giving an interesting account_ of his recent tour of the^balJlefielSs" in Franpe and Flanders. r ;- Returned-Soldiers' Association* was proposed: by Mr.. P. B. Coolcev K.C., who commehde'd" the work- being done by" the R.S.A. for all ex-soldiers, and said that the v time; and trouble given by 'the leaders of the: R.S.A; it» the direction of its aftairs were' worthy' of the gratitude and- admiration; of them all. (Applause^)' .The R;S.AV had done a great deal to keep • aliv^; tlie spirit of Anzac as well as strengthen the bonds betweei' the "New Zealanders and the "Aussies." Mr., Cooke, ±00, referred to the men of the new signal unit, and said they all felt sure that these men were taking wjth th^m th« spirit of the old company. ~ ; R.S.A. AS "ELDER BBOTHERi" Replying, Colonel A; Cowles, president of the Wellington R.S.A;,paidla tribute to , the founders,., of .the N.Z.R.S.A., including Mr., Claude Bat*ten, a Main Body diyisional; signaller, who had been a member'of-the-execu-tive of the association ever since fts foundation. ' "The" .association/ had always striven consistently in the. interests of the old Diggers," he said, arid now it had to take the position of elder brother to the young-meiv-who-were going away tp .fight the battles of the Empire, and make their path, af easy as it Colonel , Cowles said the association, was already, .doirig a good deal ,for these nieri,. and s concluded by saying, that \it must take care of them when they came .back. (Araplause.) . • ... The toast, "Our1 Fallen Comrades* proposed by the chairman in the -early part of the proceedings, was,.reverently honoured, Mr. Dick Collins meanwhile singing "Requiem." . During the evening Messrs. O. N. Foote and. Les.Stapp .sang,, and.humorous items were given by Major F. H. Lampen, D.S.O. The committee vresponsible for. organising the reuhion[..consisted of Messrs. G. T. Kelleway. P. M. .Hanria, J G. Young, F. W. Aicken, A. Lindsay, E. J. Byrne, S. Hearn, H. R, Capstick, R. G. Patrick, A. L. Bell, R. Collins, L. C. Whitelaw, W. F. Stilwell, SJVL, P. Coira, R. Riddell, H. M. Millar. G>. N. Foote, and T. Anderson, the two lastnamed being the honorary secretaires.