GISBORNE REUNION

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20824, 1 July 1942, Page 5

GISBORNE REUNION

MIDDLE EAST FUNCTION OVER 200 MEN ATTEND DINNER ON ANZAC DAY The third dinner and reunion o i. men from Gisborne who were witl 1 the Second New Zealand Expedition t ary Force in the Middle East was liek i in Syria on Anzac Day, and testimonj i of the popularity of the function wa - the large number of men who attendee t from every available unit of th< division. Unfortunately, one brigadi ;> was serving in a different part of th< 'l country, preventing many fron “ attending, but it was hoped to stag< _ a similar function when they rejolnet j the division. A description of the function . together with the names of those whe . signed the visitors’ book provided foi t the occasion, was provided by SerL geant-Major H. R. Martin, D.C.M., whe . wrote that the reunion was held in the i messroom of the guard barracks wher i more than 200 men met. in some cases 1 for the first time, since the outbreak ■ of the war. s “It is, perhaps, difficult to understand how widely scattered one small division of men can be,” Warrant Officer Martin wrote, “and it is harder to explain, but such is the ease, and men who entered camp together and at intervals from the same district may not meet again for the duration of the war.” The doors opened at 7.30 p.m., and no time was wasted. The Rev. Father E. A. Forsman, Ormond, was the chairman, and he welcomed those present, paying a glowing tribute to those who had organised the reunion. Following the loyal toast, proposed by Father Forsman, a toast to absent friends was proposed by Corporal F. Murphy, who mentioned the tragedy and grimness of the present undertak? ing. Their fallen - comrades were honoured in silence. Girls Overseas Gisborne girls overseas was the subject of the next toast, proposed by Private S. Huston, who mentioned the splendid work being done all over the Middle East by New Zealand nurses, Tuis, and V.A.Ds. Comrades of the Royal Air Force and Navy were not forgotten, and Private Doug. Dymock, who proposed the toast to them, spoke of the unity of action by the combined forces that would bring victory. The generosity of New Zealand Breweries, Limited, with donations to the Gisborne Club for district servicemen in Wellington was well remembered by Private Brown, who coupled with the toast the name of Mr. E. T. Chrisp, who was ever to the fore in sponsoring the activities of the club. Corporal E. Thomas proposed the toast to patriotic societies and the Red Cross, saying that those organisations were probably the most brilliant ever organised in time of war, and it was only the men in the field who really could appreciate their work, and that of the people at home who assisted that great work. The kindness and generosity of JVIr. D. J. Barry to Gisborne youths leaving the district for service overseas were mentioned by Private John Begg, who proposed the appropriate toast. At all entertainments organised for the soldiers, Messrs. H. Kennedy and D. McLeod were always pleased to volunteer their services, and a toast to them was proposed by Corporal Tom Cornish, who mentioned how sadly missed they were at the function. The toast, “Mr. Joe Martin,” was proposed by Private I. M. Buscke, who said Mr. Martin was ever on the alert to give assistance to new organisations and to assist departing soldiers. Tribute to Wairoa The people of Wairoa also figured in the toast list, Private T. W. O’Donnell mentioning the strong body of Wairoa people doing a great work on the home front, Gisborne boys remembering them particularly for the welcome cup of tea provided for them at the railway station. To the toast of “Our Wives and Sweethearts,” Private Max Rogers paid a tribute to their faith and steadfast loyalty and to their great work at home, at the same time expressing sympathy with those who had received the bitter blows that must be the outcome of the war. With fortitude typical of New Zealand women, they were facing far greater problems than the men in the field, he said. He hoped the time would not be far distant when they would be re-united. For their untiring work on behalf of the war effort, “the people of Gisborne” figured in the toast list, Major D. McLauchlan saying the men in the services were proud to call Gisborne home. The toast te the Returned Soldiers' Association was coupled with the name of Colonel R. F. Gambrill, SergeantMajor H. R’. Martin saying that through the efforts of the men who founded that association the name of New Zealand was planted firmly on the map of the world. They had set a standard in battle which the men of the Second N.Z.E.F. were striving to uphold. A Sentimental Note A sentimental note was introduced by Sergeant B. Kemp, who proposed the toast to mothers’ day, when small talk and friendly chatter were suspended by common consent as all were carried back in their thoughts to their homes and their mothers who were waiting patiently and loyally'for the conclusion of the grim struggle. The Home Guard and other army units were not forgotten, Private E. R. Bull saying that the men of the Second N.Z.E.F. were proud to leave the defence of their home shores in the hands of those men, in the knowledge that if war came to the Dominion’s shores a sturdy resistance would be put up. To Privates John Begg and Syd. Huston the function presented a novel birthday celebration. Many “happies” were extended all round, and the cheerful pair were appropriately toasted. The function was brought to a reluctant conclusion at midnight, when Captain Hunter Witters moved a hearty vote of thanks to the organisers, mentioning Father forsman. Lieutenants K. F. Jones and M. R. Maude, and Corporal T. Cornish. The vote of thanks was carried by acclamation. During the evening a first-class programme of entertainment was contributed. Members of an infantry brigade contributed musical items, and Privates Huston,- O’Donnell, Len Bignell, Ser-geant-Major Martin, Staff-Sergeant Sceats and Corporal Peter Murphy sang.