CORPS REUNION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 200, 14 July 1936, Page 2

CORPS REUNION.

MACHINE-GUNNERS MEET

WELLINGTON, July 13. A reunion of ex-members of the New Zealand Machine Gun Corps was held in the It.S.A. rooms on Saturday niglit. Major It. D. Hardie, D.S.O. tformerly of Palmerston North) presided over a large attendance and many war-time friendships were renewed. A feature of the reunion was that Machine Gun Corps badges were issued to ex-members of the corps, this scheme having been inaugurated by Major L: S; Cimino. Major Hardie spoke of the work of the machine gunners, not only on the Western Front but in Egypt and Palestine. He paid tribute to the work of Colonel J. M. Rose (Palmerston North), Major 'Wallingford, and Major Henderson, “tho fathers of the Machine Gun’ Corps,” and regretted the fact that they were unable to attend the gathering. Major J. H. Luxford, in proposing the toast of “Absent Comrades,” said lie had been honoured with a toast which not even the most eloquent could properly propose. He emphasised Major Hardie’s remarks in reference to the “fathers” of the Machine Gun Corps. They had had a hard struggle before the war, lie said, lor in those days the' machine-gun had not been looked on favourably by G.H.Q., it having often failed in critical moments. Lieut-Goloncl A. Cowles, V.D., in proposing “The Machine Gun Corps,” said lie was proud to propose such a toast. The machine-gunners had only been properly organised after the war had started, but only the pick of the men had been taken. He referred to their operations in Palestine and mentioned the work of tho mounted ma-chine-gunners. Colonel Cowles also mentioned the work of Major-General Sir Andrew Russell, whose portrait it was proposed to hang in the National Art Gallery, He hoped that at the same time they would be able to present a portrait of Major-General Sir Edward Chaytor, whose services as a leader had been invaluable to the unit.

In his reply Major Hardic said that the macliine-gun unit was to him, and always would he, the best unit in which to serve either on the Western Front or in Palestine. It had a- great record of service and accomplishment. At the beginning of the war there had been only four British machine-guns to every sixteen possessed by Germany. At Messines the Now Zealand Machinegun Corps had been the second to carry out a barrage, and later Earl Haig, when inspecting the Corps, had said he was very conscious of the work of the New Zealand machine-gunners. Major McLean and Lieutenant Hopkills; also replied. Other toasts honoured were “Other Units” and “Major llardio.” Major Lux ford, in a brief speech, said that it was the first reunion of machine-gunners in Wellington, and lie hoped they would he able to make it an annual event. He made .special reference to a gallant member of the 3rd Machine-gun Company, the aviator, Mr Rat O’Hara, who recently lost his life. Always full of ambition, lie had helped to put New Zealand on the map.