WAR DAYS RECALLED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 22 June 1937, Page 9

WAR DAYS RECALLED

13th BATTERY REUNION "I often think wc had a darn good war,” was the sentiment expressed in a letter received at the annual reunion of the 13th Battery, N.Z.E.F., held at Wellington on Saturday night, when 56 comrades gathered to exchange reminiscences of the war years, states “The Dominion.” The reunion, which celebrated its twenty-first anniversary on Saturday evening, is attended by ex-members of the battery from all parts of New Zealand, and the battery is the only unit in New Zealand, which holds such an annual reunion.

Proposing the toast of the 13th Battery, coupled with the name of its commander, Major T. Farr, D. 5.0., M.C., Gunner F. Jamieson stated that the whole success of these reunions was due to the major, who had instilled such a feeling of friendly and goodfellowship into his men that they were prepared to travel from all corners of the country to renew those friendships. He paid a tribute to the work of the major both in peace and during the war. “When you see such a gathering as this, you will realise that you did mean something to your men,” he said. Replying to the toast, Major Farr said that the fact that men were prepared to go to the expense of visiting Wellington from all over New Zealand reflected great credit on the spirit of the battery. He gave a brief outline of the history of,the battery, mentioning such famous names as the Somme, Hill 63, Ypres, and the Battle of Messines. The battery, which earned for itself the name of “Devil’s Own,” also took an active part in the “Big Show,” when the German defence -was finally rolled back.

“The battery was also a great sporting body,” said the major, and he instanced several outstanding successes they had had on the football field.

Private F. Wilson, proposing the toast of “Absent Comrades,” mentioned the death of Private Horace Wiggins and Lieutenant S. Tyler, two members of the battery who had died during the year. They were sadly missed from the roll-call at the reunion, he said. On Sunday members of the battery were entertained at Messrs Horrobin’s property, at Ohariu Valley. Three members of the Horrobin family served in the 13th Battery.