DANCE AND CONCERT

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 73, 27 March 1940, Page 16

DANCE AND CONCERT

THE ANTI-TANK BATTERY

EVENING IN LONDON

(iiy Air Mail, from "The Post's" London Representative.)

LONDON, February 2;

Hakas echoed round the ballroom of the Park Lane Hotel last week when the New Zealand Anti-Tank Battery held its first dance. The men travelled up from Aldershot through deep snow, and New Zealanders serving with the British Army, the Navy, and the Royal Air Force also travelled long distances to be there.

The High Commissioner, Mr. W. J. Jordan, was represented by Mr. R. M. Sunley, finance officer at New Zealand House, whose son. Bombardier H. M. Sunley, is a member of the Unit. Officers of the Battery present were Major C. J. Duff. R.N.Z.A.. Commanding Officer, accompanied by Mrs. Duff (who is a sergeant in the W.A.A.F.), and Lieutenant D. B. Patterson, N.Z.A. Others present included Lieutenant-Colonel R. S. Park, R.N.Z.A., Military Liaison Officer in Britain, Bombardier D. C. Coombe, the New Zealand Davis Cup player and present doubles champion of Finland, Sister Sybil Anderson CChristchurch), who wore the uniform of .the Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service, and 17 New Zealanders who arrived recently to join tne R.A.F. They included Pilot Offiucr J . Duigan, son of Major-General J. E. Durgan, Chief of the New Zealand General Staff. Officers in the training camp«at Larkhill, Wiltshire, were represented by Cadet C. Bellam (Auckland). In addition to cabaret turns, items were given by Lance-Bombardier M. Niven (New Plymouth) and Gunner J. Reidy (Hamilton). An "eccentric" dance was given by Gunner T. Vaughan (Christchurch). The dance was arranged by Gunner R. G. Sloan. (Timaru) and Bombardier B. Francis.

Early this week men from the New Zealand Battery gave a camp concert at Aldershot, half an hour of which was broadcast by the 8.8.C. Hakas were given, Maori songs sung, and Gunner Vaughan played a pianoforte movement from "The Ace of Spades." Vaughan was awarded an exhibition in 1934 entitling him to three years' study at the Royal Academy of Music. The male voice singing was excellent, and all the items were of high merit. Applause in the hall was terrific.