S. AFRICAN WAR VETERANS

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 November 1929, Page 5

S. AFRICAN WAR VETERANS

SIR I. HAMILTON’S SPEECH. (By Cable—Press Assn.—Copyright.) LONDON, November 24. The first annual memorial service of the South African War Veterans’ Association, of which Field Marshal Lord Methuen is the President, was held at the Horseguards’ Parade today. The men were inspected by General Sir lan Hamilton. Addressing the company, Sir lan Hamilton said: “I always used to say: We are the lads who fought with White, Buller, Methuen, Roberts, Baden-Powell and other warriors of great renown at Elandslgate, Waggon Hill, Pieter’s Heights, Paardeberg, and Diamond Hill. We are old soldiers, who, once upon a time, on half rations, played hide and seek 'with Christian De Wet, until our feet were bleeding, and our clothes were in rags. We are proud to stand here, representing the 20,000 soldiers who gave their lives foi’ the agreed peace of Vereeniging; and the smaller our numbers, the greater is each man’s share of honour. The Vereeniging Peace was an achievement equal to that of that of the million dead who are represented by the Treaty of Versailles. Still our tally holds every time.”

He added: “You speak kindly of Brother Boer, who used to shoot at us all the time, and hit us pretty often. You are helping to keep South Africa happy and united, and what better monument could our fallen comrades desire?

Led by Sir I. Hamilton, the veterans marched to the Cenotaph, where Sir I. Hamilton placed a wreath on behalf of the Association.