TERRITORIAL ENGINEERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 139, 13 June 1940, Page 17

TERRITORIAL ENGINEERS

A successful smoke concert was held on Tuesday night by the 2nd Field Company New Zealand Engineers in the Legion of Frontiersmen's Hall. Mr. K. E. Luke, City Engineer, who is himself an ex-army engineer, presided. After the toast of "The King," proposed by Lieut. C. A. S. Maynard, had been honoured, other toasts given were: "The 2nd Field Company/ proposed by Lieut.-Colonel D. G. Gibbs, and replied to by Lieut: F. W. Stewart (officer commanding the company); "The N.Z.E.F.," proposed by Lieut. A. H. Johnston, and replied to by Colonel R. A. Row, D.5.0., Officer Commanding the Central Military District; "The British Army," proposed by Lieut. C. O. Barnett, and responded to by Lieut. G. Holderness; "Our Allies," proposed by Sergeant Keogh, and replied to by Mr. F. W. Furkert, C.M.G.; "The Sister Services," proposed by Major Hobbs, and replied to by Flight-Lieutenant W. O. Phillips; "The R.5.A,," proposed by Lieut. L. H. Hirst, the reply being made by Major Hugh Vickerman. Colonel Row gave an interesting address, during the course of which he [traced the history of the Field Engineers from the year 1300, when they were first formed as a branch of the artillery, up to the present highlyspecialised unit of today. Part of the i talk was addressed to the new recruits, some thirty of whom were present.

Items were given by Messrs. E. Dean,' Marshall, Williams, McKay, Campbell, Sergeant Keogh, and the McKay-Camp-bell Banjo Band.

During the evening prizes were presented by Colonel Row as follows:— Most efficient, section (cup), No. 4 section (Lieut. A. H. Johnston, Section Officer; Sergeant Usmar, Section Sergeant); company shot (cup and shell case), Lance-Corporal D. M. McLauchlan; best attendance (shell case). Corporal J. Behag; section sergeants competition (shell case), Sergeant L. Paget.

At the conclusion of the evening Lieut. Stewart thanked the regimental association of the unit for their assistance in the recent recruiting campaign. He also made reference to the work of the social committee (Lieut. A. H. Johnston, Corporal N. N. Carnell, and Sergeant W. Cassar.