Dinks Meet Again Today
AUCKLAND. Sat. (P.A.)—Cheerfully acknowledging none less than “50 years young,” survivors of “The Dinks” of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade—the Earl of Liverpool’s Own—crowded into the Town Hall for a Dominionwide reunion of World War I comrades.
“I must emphasise that you are not a lost legion,” said the Mayor (Mr J. A. C. Ailum) at the civic reception. “Your influence and example have gone on through the years and must have influenced your sons—maybe your grandsons—who fought in the last W!” ” Other ceremonies will take place during the week-end. MAKE-SHIFT CAMP
Accommodation could not be found in hotels for the 800 men who will be attending the reunion, so they will camp in the Onehunga RSA clubrooms on army stretchers with army blankets.
Breakfasts will be provided by an Auckland catering firm, and other meals will be obtained in the city. The function opened this morning with a mayoral reception and the reunion of comrades of over 30 years ago will be held tonight. Friends and relatives of the members of the Brigade may attend the service to be held on Sunday morning at the Cenotaph if the weather permits, or in the Town Hall concert chamber if it does not. FINE WAR RECORD The first two battalions of the Brigade sailed for Egypt in 1915 after a long training period. In February, 1916, the other two battalions of the Brigade joined the newly-formed N.Z. Division at Moasrar Camp before going to France. The Dinks stayed there until the end of the war, earning an enviable reputation as soldiers. The unit ceased to exist as a part of the N.Z. Forces in February, 1919. More than 3200 men fell while serving with the Brigade, and there was a long list of other casualties. During the three years of active service the unit received 757 awards, inCorporal Samuel Frickleston and Sercluding two Victoria Crosses (Lancegeant Harry John Laurent), 18 Distinguished Service Orders, 94 Military Crosses, 76 Distinguished Conduct Medals and 315 Military Medals.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NA19480605.2.47
Bibliographic details
Northern Advocate, 5 June 1948, Page 4
Word Count
337Dinks Meet Again Today Northern Advocate, 5 June 1948, Page 4
Using This Item
NZME is the copyright owner for the Northern Advocate. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons New Zealand BY-NC-SA licence . This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of NZME. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Log in