MILITARY REUNION

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 1040, 12 June 1924, Page 3

MILITARY REUNION

WELLINGTON MOUNTED RIFLES. The fifth annual re-union of the Wellington Mounted Rifles was held last night in the Empire Hall, Colonel Whyte, D.C.M., L>.S.O. (with bar) presiding over a very large attendance, which included ex-service men from all quarters of the Dominion. Tho function, which was eminently successful, was of an, informal character, the chairman slating at the outset that the premier object oi tho gathering was to enable members of the unit to fratornise and renew old associations. Ihe evening was characterised by many re* miniscences of service days, and served to show in no uncertain manner that J no camaraderie of tho members of tho Wellington Mounted Rifles had not lessened with the passing of years. i The chairman read apologies front tne following: General W. Metdrum v? 1 ' mouth), Major Foley, M.C. (Stratford , Major Hardliam, V.C. (Wellington), Capt. •I. G. Wales (Wanganui). Capt. Mclntyre (Wellington), Capt. J. Gow (Levin), Lieut. G. \V. Scott (Wellington), Lieut. A. <-* Simpson (Hunterville) and Mr J. M. Johnston (Palmerston North): A letter was read to the company from General Uyne, Australian Defence Minister, wishing tne unit every success in its annual re-union. Captain Jago read a letter from .Laptain J. Gow, now an inmate of the 1 UKeora sanatorium at Waipukurau, and paid generous tribute to the ability of this officer as a medical man and to his courage in the face of the malady from which he was suffering. „ Following the loval toast, Major A.,»• Wilder, M.C. (llawke's Bay) proposed that of "Parliament and the Local People who assisted in Mobilisation at Palmerston North." In so doing he referred in appreciative terms of tho work done by Mr JA. Nash, M.P., and tho residents of Palmerston North in this connection. Replying, Mr Nash speaking m humorous vein, said: "No matter what Parliament you have it is always the worst (Laughter). It was very gratifying to know that thev had had a very good season in tho matter of the export of produce, he added. Mr Nash went on to say that £29,000,000 had been spent in assisting soldiers since they returned from tne front, Some of this was perhaps misspent, but he felt confident that in the end it would prove to bo all right. No less than 29.000 men were receiving war pensions at present. It was a pleasure to meet so many of the men whom the local people had assisted at the Awapuiu camp. One could not forget tho ■ manner in which the people of Palmerston North had come into line in the mobilisation days. iui Nash proceeded to allude to the splendid manner in which Now Zealand . had answered the call to arms, being again as in the South African war, the first Britisn possession to land men on foreign soil. It was noteworthy that they had lost no troopships from New Zealand, due to the vigilance of British and Allied convoys and that the Dominion had sent Home £l6O 000,000 worth of produce in war time. It was a great pleasure to know that civilian aid had not been forgotten by tho«e responsible for the re-union. The toast of "The Regiment'' miij» nosed by Colonel 11 J. McLean (Welhngfon), towhose surgical skill in France the chairman paid a warm compliment. Colonel McLean said that he I'ad.scen departmental reports on returned soldier set tiers and they were very good and money spent in this connection would be well ier&id "I have the greatest affection for lu regiment, and I have never met men Whom I have so taken to my heart as hose of the Wellington Mounted Rifles. He especially desired to mention the ate Major Elmsfey as a fine soldier and splendid comrade. (Applause) xwM Colonel Batchelar (Palmerston North) "Slier toasts honoured included: ''Other Units." nroposed by Colonel C. G. c ; P° wl « s ; OMGDS.O. (Palmerston - North), and replied'to by Colonel Munro Dunedin and Major J. S .Cowles "Absent Comrades," proposed by chairman and honoured in silence ; Aotea Convalescent Honie," prdpdsedvby Captain Jago. The health of Mr G Bremner, a veteran of the unit who went out with tho Main Body, and of the chairman were also drunk. , , . .. „ At the conclusion of the evening ,tho chairman announced that future re-unions would be held on the second Wednesday in Juno of each year. , During the evening the following contributed to a musical and elocutionary programme: Captain Jago, Captain Black (Gisborne) and Messrs J. Best and Jackbou.