N.Z.E.F. VETERANS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22320, 3 May 1947, Page 3

N.Z.E.F. VETERANS

UNIT CONTACTS DIFFICULTY FACED 22 BN. AT WANGANUI The organisation of regimental associalions am >ng veterans of the SecOlid N.Z.E.F is proceeding apace, despite difficulties which the older generation of New Zealand servicemen encounter! d in a much milder form. Various units of the First N.Z.E.F., especially in the infantry classifications. were expanded upon the basis of district unit- such as the Canterbury Infantry Regiment and the WellingtonEast'Coast Mcunteds. Men from the respective districts tended to gravitate to the units associated with their own districts, and thus, at the close ot tne war. _ Gisborne, for instance, had a substantial proportion of infantry veterans with Wellington regimental associations and those veterans were better able lo organise regimental groups. In the composition of the Second N.Z.E.F . provincial boundaries were les.-, influential, and later postings to field units were on the basis of shortages Units thus developed into aggregations of men from all parts of the Dominion—a fact which did not detract. in any way from their fighting efficiency, but which left the veterans of respective formations scattered all over the country after demobilisation. A Job I’or The “Heads” This, in turn, placed difficulties in tlie way of organising regimental reunions on a district basis. Energetic committees have had some success in this direction, but there has been a general demand for information as to when the “heads” are going lo organise something bigger. Inquiries of this kind presuppose the existence o f a national organisation which only a few of the Second N.Z.E.F. unit’s have achieved to date. The 22nd Battalion. Second N.Z.E.F.. is one that lias uncovered organising talent for the purpose of a national reunion. and has entrusted preparations for its “big do" on June 28-29 to a Wanganui committee with Mr. E. F. Laws as chairman and Mr. M. G. Wade.y as secretary. Wanganui has been selected as the venue for the reunion partly because of the keenness of the veterans there and partly because cities such as Palmerston North and Wellington have been unable to guarantee accommodation for a large number of visitors. Gisborne ex-members, of 22nd Battalion hope lo organise a substantial party for the Wanganui trip, and a blanch committee with Mr. J. F. Forster as secretary is seeking contacts with those intending to make the journey. The branch committee has been able to make satisfactory arrangements for transport of a large number of reunion enthusiasts.