Souvenir As President's Emblem

Northern Advocate, 29 March 1947, Page 2

Souvenir As President's Emblem

Souvenir of the South African War, a bandolier was presented to the president at the reunion. The bandolier is now the president’s badge of office.

The bandolier.is now the president’s badge of office.

In investing him with the insignia, the immediate past president (Mr W. J. Bell), who brought the bandolier back from the South African campaign, expressed the wish and the certainty that Mr Flyger and his successors in office would wear it with pride and with honour to themselves and their association.

Mr Flyger said he accepted the badge and what it represented with a full sense of responsibility. SPIRIT OF UNITY In welcoming the visitors, the president referred to the triumphant tour of South Africa by the King and Queen, where they were so closely linked with General Smuts, one of the most able of the commanding officers of the Boers.

This was an illustration of the spirit of unity which had grown from the conflict of nearly 50 years ago. A solemn moment during the reunion was the honouring of the toast of fallen comrades.

It was observed with the customary two minues of silence and in complete darkness, while the immortal lines of “They shall not grow .old . . .” were recited. TOAST LIST After the loyal toast, other toasts honoured were: Dominion executive (Mr B. Kitchen—Mr R. A. Rogers); visitors (Dr F. W. Dawson—Mr W. E. Linkhorn); kindred associations (Mr W. J. Bell—Messrs F: C. Eyles, RSA, K. H. Becroft. Air Force Association, G. A.' R. McKoy, 2nd NZEF. F. W. MacDermott, Homeservicemen's Association), the ladies (Mr C. T. Flyger —Miss T. Warrington), the artists (Mr Elyger—Mr I. Smith). Items were given by Messrs I. Smith, F. W. MacDermott. J. E. Tittleton and T. Hetherington. Messrs J. W. Brunker and I. Smith were the accompanists.