Manawatu Mounted Rifles

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6837, 19 April 1932, Page 3

Manawatu Mounted Rifles

MEMORIES RECALLED AT SMOKE CONCERT. Tho Manawatu Mounted Rifles held a most enjoyable smoke concert in the orderly room, Princess street, on Saturday night when Captain Gilshnan presided. Associated with him at the chief table were Major Garner, a Maori War veteran, Captain R. H. Allen and Lieutenant Bungay (Legion of Frontiersmen), Captain Norman (7 tii Hawke’s Bay), Captain C. E. Lees (6th Mounted Rifles) and Lieutenant S. Wilson.

Proceedings opened with the loyal toast, following which the chairman proposed the toast of “Our Visitors,” coupling it with tho name of Major Garner, the speaker stating that Major Garner had been soldiering long before those present were born. However, he needed little introduction, for too Major was a well-known and popular figure lo all. In tho course of his reply Major Garner stated that he had first taken (lie oath of allegiance 67 years ago and within a month lie had been in the firing line. Boys and men from the ages of 16 to 60 had in those days been either in the Volunteers and the Militia. Unfortunately, there wero few remaining of his original company of 70 in the Poverty Bay and he had only been aDie to trace two, one being 85 years of age, and the other 86. In all he had served 22 years and 10 months, hut while he had grown somewhat tired of the life it had supplied him with many interesting experiences. The toast of the Legion of Frontiersmen was proposed by Lieutenant Wilson, Captain Allen replying.' The toast of “Other Units” was entrusted to Captain Lees, the reply being made by Mr. Warren and Bombardier Nicholls.

Lieutenant Wilson, in proposing the toast of "The Regiment, ” paid a tribute to the splendid record of the fitli Mounted Rifles in peace and ivar. On the outbreak of hostilities in 1911 all, with tho exception of two officers, had immediately gone at the country’s call, and one officer had been too old and the other medically unfit. Ho was certain, concluded the speaker, that the record of the regiment, which was second to none in tho Dominion, would be proudly maintained by those to follow. Q.M. S. Fox, in replying to the toast, stated that he had Jirst become associated with the Oth Mounted Rifles m 1909 and had always found the regiment a happy family. The oth had always enjoyed a proud record for in the Boer War it had been presented with a flag by Queen Victoria, while during tho Great War it had maintained that high standard. The toast of "Absent Comrades” was drunk in silence.

A. number of items interspersed the toasts, the following being contributors: Vcntriloqtiial item, Mr. L. Flowers; popular choruses with Mr. Ivan Speight at the piano; recitations, Mr. J. Wilson; song, Mr. E. R, Chapman; song with guitar accompaniment, Mr. L. Flowers; guitar solo, Mr. Sundborn and duct by Messrs Sundborn and Penman and songs and dances by Messrs Penman and Wilson; saxaphono item, Bandsman Bergersen,