Wellington Regiment Reunion

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 114, 17 May 1938, Page 8

Wellington Regiment Reunion

SOCIAL GATHERING AND CHURCH PARADE Tbe annual reunion of members of the Wellington-West Coast Regiment was held in Palmerston North on Saturday. The big hall in the A. and P. Association’s buildings was appropriately decorated for the occasion, an interesting feature being placards on the walls recalling well-known battles in which the regiment participated with conspicuous success. Colonel W. H. Cunningham (Wellington) presided and associated with him at the head table were the Mayor (Mr. A. E. Mansford), Mr. B. J. Jacobs (Dominion vice-president of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Assn), Canon G. Y. Woodward, Colonel J. H Whyte, Major J. T. Bosworth, Colonel H. Holderness (Hastings), Colonel C. H. Weston (Wellington), Major F. Garner and Mr. J. A. Nash.

When the chairman entered the hall he was piped to his place by PipeMajor V. Nicholson and Piper Donnell. Following the loyal toast, the chairman welcomed the guests of the evening, mentioning the interest which Messrs. Mansford and Nash and Canon Woodward had always taken in the reunion. The toast of “Our Guests” was honoured.

The toast of “Absent Comrades” was proposed by Colonel Weston, who paid a brief, but touching tribute to those men of the regiment who had made the supreme sacrifice. The toast was honoured in silence, after which Mr. H. Pierard sang “Requiem” and Lieutenant E. T. McKain sounded the Last tost and Reveille. The singing of “The Boys of tho Old Brigade” by Mr. Pierard was taken as a toast to the Maori war veteran, Major Garner, who is over 90 years of age. Following his reply the assemblage gave three rousing cheers and sang “Old Soldiers Never Die.”

Mr. Nash, was entrusted with the toast of the Australian and New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Associations, and he made reference to tho closer bonds of friendship which had been forged between the two countries by the recent visit to Australia of the New Zealand contingent. In 1940 an Australian contingent would be coming to the Dominion, and it behoved New Zealanders to give them the welcome they deserved. (Applause.) Mr. Jacobs, in reply, gave details in humorous vein of the recent trip to Australia. Mr. Jacobs concluded by stating that he would write to the Australian Returned Soldiers’ League assuring them of the Wellington Regiment’s determination to make the 1940 visit a memorable one.

The opportunity was taken by Mr. P. Bennett (Te Horo) to suggest that an association be formed so that members of the regiment could be kept in closer touch with one another. J-T * further suggested that the 1940 reu. .i be held at Trentham, if possible, and that two or three days be spent in camp there. Eventually a sub-committee consisting of Messrs. W. H. Cunningham, P. Bennett, C. Broad (Wellington), R. Hardie (Wanganui), F. K. Turnbull (Wanganui) and T. White (Paraparaumu) was set up to bring down proposals to the next reunion, which will be held in Palmerston North as usual. In the meantime district secretaries were appointed to enrol members of the proposed association, it being hoped to secure a membership of 6000. The secretaries are as follow; Wellington city, Mr. C. Broad; Hutt Valley, Mr. P. MeNichol, Lower Hutt; Manawatu, Mr. B. C. B. Dickson, Palmerston North; Lower Rangitikei, Mr. A. H. Wrightson, Ohingaiti; Waimarino, Mr. C. Honore, Raetihi; Taumarunui, Mr. G. Venn; Waikato, Mr. W. Aldridge, Hamilton; Auckland, Mr. T. Boyce; Wanganui, Mr. R. Smart; South Taranaki, Mr. M. Urquhart, Stratford; North Taranaki, Mr. S. Varnam, New Plymouth. Community singing was led by an orchestra under the direction of Mr. J. Renwick, the gathering concluding with “Auld Lang Syne ” and the National Anthem. Church Parade. On Sunday morning, members of the regiment, together with South African War veterans and members of the Legion of Frontiersmen, paraded at All Saints’ Church, where the regimental colours rest. They were headed by the Manawatu Scottish Society’s Pipe Band. The Mayor (Mr. Mansford) and members of the City Council were also present, and there was a large attendance of the general public. The service was conducted by Canon Woodward, who delivered a very appropriate address. The first Lesson was read by Colonel W. H. Cunningham and the second by Colonel Holderness. The Last Post was sounded by Lieutenant McKain and the service was concluded with the National Anthem.