FOR KING AND COUNTRY

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 22 June 1927, Page 5

FOR KING AND COUNTRY

♦ LEGION OF FRONTIERSMEN. TARANAKI SQUADRON. ANNU A L ASS FAI Rl, V. To serve the King, Flag and Empire m any cUipaetty acsirod, wheuier jn peace or war, was i-lre brief oii.tilune- or rli.e objective oi rite- J.egi.on ot I'lrontrer.sinrcu given at title annual dinner of tno Jv (laranakij Squadron field at New Elymo.ut.il, last evening. Al-aridng. the. cpu.eiimj.ing assembly or the --animal eamji wluch opened in. -file northern eieuitro * on Thursday last, ihe {gathering. was represent u.t;ive of all- parts of tire proven*, white Jegiouaiues: from as tar afield ups Wellington were* -also- in at- ! tendance. \\ lien the Loyal T'oa<st was proposed approximately TOO were- present, representing the following troops: Egniont (Ukaito), North Taranaki f\v aitara), P'a.ritutu (New Plymouth), Pa-ni-liaka- (Ralmtuj, Atiia-w.a, (Urenui), Oha-wo (tliuiwera), AwakiriQ, Filt-ham, .Waverley and Wellington. Squadro.n Commander Captain R. Bike* pre-sided and associated with him were: Stall Captain G. Bertrand (New Zealand Headquarters), Liie-tu. R. Brc- • ken-shir o (Squadron Adjutant), Troop Leader G, N. Vdcrkridg© (Oliawe). Sq mvd■tn Sergeant-Major L. TV. Andi-ow, T .C'., .and Squadron Quanfcermaster-Scr-geant H, Sampson. A .number of apologies for absence were received, including imo from Colonel C. JT. Westo-n. D. 5.0., who until recently commanded the squadron. I 1 oil lowing the Loyajl Toast, Squadron • Commander Bike outlined the acti vitio-.s of the ciamp and, in referring to the j lectures given by Captain. G. F, J ago, dealing with the campaign in Piaitest-inc, ' anti by Staff Cliiptaiiii G. Bertrand, on- I titled “Lawrence in Arabia,”, spoke ol them as an. intellectual treat which, .it was to be roc-rotted, bad not been on- ; joyed- by a far greater number of j ■legionaries

HONORR J.N AIEMBERSinib ‘‘The * legion is a, .‘-■omewbat nebulous thing, a,ini .i,s «o m e-rimes difficult *U> describe, but -it is an organisation to which it is an ihoiinti-i' lq,belong." said the president, .in. sponsoring the- roast, “ I ho Legion.'' Briefly ex I huining -i ts objective, -lift -staled t hat Frontiersmen, u horever l.oimd, stood together lor the King. Flag ami Empire. "In peace or war we .stand pledged to that common ideal of service,” .mid Commander Pike in conclusion. The names of Lieut. Broken shire aiid Sergeant.-Major A nd-row were coupled with the toast. Lieut. Brokonshire referred to the spirit of the legion as remarkably -strong evidence of lbs virility being given in the. growth of the organisation in Taranaki where, in a few year.?, it-had developed from, a membership of “three- good men and true” to a strength o-f 200. A decline- in certain centres bad. however, isbown t-biat the s-pirit required the example- of leadership. A. tsti iking example of the power o-f leadership bad been given recently in England when, during the industrial strike, -the British Legion of ex-S-e-iwieenien. whose moving spirit was Karl Haig, had kept, their organksa-tiiou and been enabled to give valued ser-vi-e-o 'to the community. Lelade-rsh.ip wiais the out-staiud.illg essential factor, and Ire would strongiy commend to all

who held office in the legion to- endeavour to keep alive its- .spirit by devising. -activity winch would sustain interest-, while to frontiersmen he recommended the elect-io-i). of loaders possessing clash, initiative, personality, and imagination and the will to -put idelao into execution. SUPPORT TO LEADERS. So. rgeiaint-Major Andrew advised thiaf, having eJecited leadens, frontiersmen should] .stick to tliem. Having enrolled with the legion, members should strive in-dividually a-nd collectively, not only when -the call to* the colours was sounded, hut also during the years of peace to keep the organisation at the peak of ■strength and efficiency. “The .squadron m in a very flounishing condition, due Very largely to the work of itihe troop leaders and the other executive officers,” said Stall' Captain Bertrand in proposing (he toast “1< Squadron.”. ‘-This is a matter for cot..--gilatulatiqm and the scope of the move-' reenfe in the province is, evidenced by the representative gathering to-night,’ he continued. ‘‘Having reached such a standard, wo must not- only maintain i-t but .strive to improve upon it.” He paid tribute to the qualities of -leadership displayed by Colonel O. H. Tri-s----ton, who had just retired from it-lio command <jf the isquadron and was to he projtosec!- las' tike New Zealand Commandant at tiro forthcoming squadron conference. Cap-tain Bertrand referred to the reorganisation of the squadron district, which would entail -the loss of the TV'averley troop to- tire Wanganui squadron. He also- mentioned that the squadron would shortly be (losing the services of Ser-gea-t tt-AI aj or Andrew, \’.o.. who- was proceeding to India. Appealing for support to the new squadron commander (Captain Pike), he urged every member to strive towards the -goal of -e-iilisting every man in the province .who .possessed, the legjion spirit or who- would be likely to- develop it. Responses were given by Staff-Ser-geant TV. I>. Thomson (Awakino Tr-oo))), Troup header N. Corbett (Egliumt), Sergt. I’. L. Brown (Par-itutu), hieut. W. J. Wright (Rarihaka), Lieut. G. Chapman (North Taranaki), Lieut-. •I. G. If i tzgcira .Id (Ati-awa), Lieut. C. N. Vickridge (Ohawe), and Lieut. R. B. Foord (Fltham). DEPARTING GUEST.

The- health of the squadron sergeantmajor (Captain L. TV. Andrew, V.C.) was proposed by Sergeant L. R. Neiison (\T aver ley), who, in a. seri-os of amusing isallic.s according with the Legion style of presenting compliments, voiced (lie t-siecui in which the winner of the covoted dec oration, is -held, and the regret oeeasi-oiicd by Hie i.-oii-t-cnipla tion of liis depart n-iv fur India. Rcjilyin.q in -similar vein. Captain Andrew expressed appraeiation of the- previous speaker's tributes, and the idea sure that association with the squadron had afforded. In -proposing the health of the Now Zealand headquarters staff, Lieut. C. N. Vickridge stressed the importance of the .administrative work, and exnre.ssed appreciation of the* efficient manner in which tho-sb responsible bad discharged their duties. Frontiersmen in Taranaki were also .indebted particularly to their own .headquarters officers. On the return of those! who bad served the Empire during the Gron)\T ar, Taranaki district troops of the legion bad been the first in the* Dominion to actively re-enter the work—a factor which bad been .largely -influenced by the sterling qualities of the -squadron commander. Colonel C. H. Weston, whose service to the legion had been characterised bv the same indefatigable spirit which had* won him distinction in the exacting phases of actual warfare.

The; reply was given by Lieut. G. Bertrand. Oilier toasts wore “Visiting] Troops” (Frontiersman JR. IT. Pigott, Atiawa troop—Lieut. .J. Stevens, W’ave.rloy; Frontiersman .J. IT. Rates, WcAlingfcon); “The Entertainers” (proposed by thei president); and “The Press.'” TROP 11 IKS PRESENTED. During the ' eventng the hollowing trophies won at the camp and during the year in shooting competitions were presented:— Squadron Troop Challenge Cup, teams of two. —Won bv Paritntu (Frontiersmen Ei. J. Herbert and J. Therklestont. Previous winners: 1923, Pasri-tut-u j 1924. Paritntu ; 192-5, Wa-verley ; L 926. Paritntu. . “Taranaki Herald” Challenge Cup, individual score. — Won by Frontiersman E. J. Herbert (Paritntu). Previous winners; 1923. St a fl-Cap tain 0. Bertrand (headquarters) ; 1924. Frontiersman E. J. Herbert; 1925. Staff

Captain G. Bertrand; 1926, Stall Captain, G. Bertrand. Brunton Challenge Cup, mi mature .shooting, troop tennis of 10. —Won by Farithtu. Previous winner, Oha wo. The following New Zealand competition trophies at present held by the squ-ad-ron were also exhibited: —

Memorial Cup, squadron teams, of live. Successive winners.—-1921, C Squadron (Gisborne); 1922. K Squadron (\\ airarapa) ; 1923, J 'Squadron (Onotiki): 1925, L Squadron (Taranaki) ; 1926. L- Squadron (Taranaki).

D* Aster re Chip, squadron average. Successive winners.—l 923, J Squadron (Onotiki): 1925, L Squadron (Taranaki) : 1926. L Squadron (Taranaki).

Items, ot song and story were contributed bv tile following:—Messrs A. Hay. \Y. Cunningham, F. Cornwall, G. Goldsworthy. F. Baird, J. Maxwell, and proceedings were enlivened further with selections submitted by MeNeill's orchestra.