HAPPY VETERANS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15610, 15 May 1914, Page 9

HAPPY VETERANS.

S | R lAN HAMILTON'S VISIT. fffAMOffS BATTLES RECALLED. mmt- — ■SSsfLAL PLEASED WITH HOME. mgl young men of to-day will remember General Sir lan Hamilton as the dashing, : , i<;A.' nn .} ie arted soldier who inspected their Lki ranks, expressed admiration for : their s*" :ri & a!IJ military bearing, and ' '•itted 01 ™ i n ms note-book things for Wffl itself ' lone - Tho veterans of tllo Em- . "»g wars will recall him during their ||1!| remaining years, as the distinguished H I era [ who shook them by the hand, 11 nofeo"to them as a comrade, and assured r^V^em' of their country's gratitude. Never H ■„■ he «en to better advantage than he i| [^ yesterday, when he visited the Veto\Hi rail's Home. The event will remain a 'v.:-.'bright spot in the old soldiers' memories until tho last muster for them is ; ;t; : sounded. : ii'i.' Before the general's car came into view '.*•'■• the old men in their bluo and red uniforms waited on tho verau^an °* the homo, in I |l» high state of expectancy. Veterans, ...-Cfjli in!" commanded Major Carpenter, as '"'H 'tie first car appeared. The 39 veterans— ■/,.'■; como of them still straight and active, '*'' jane bent and lame—formal into lino and >"' •- stood like a detachment of the Old Guard. '; .vUpon it being ascertained that the general '">•'*■ was some minutes behind, they were told «H'i'?they could sit down again, but few did so. VAOce of the frailest seemed to regard the II suggestion almost as an insult. He felt 1 .'.'."that he was on review.

Sir lan arrived at last, with the Hon.

HJames Allen (Minister for Defence), fl'..'general Godley, and Brigadier-General *; Ellison, accompanying him. His eyes H brightened as lie mounted the steps and i purveyed the blue lino of grey-bearded f ' men standing at attention. : ; ■': "1 hope ilie boys are none the worse for

Uieir parade yesterday," said the general ckeiily. The Crimean medal, bear-11|.'ag-'tlio bars of BaJaklava, SaDastopcJ 'l'- ! and Alma, the medal of tlic .Mutiny wit!

•'Lucknow" on a bar, and the blue ana

" led ribbon to which was attached the llimedal' of tho .New Zealand war, hung r")'npon the breast of the first veteran of the -'T. ; r fat. Sir lan examined them with in- ' terest. "And what was your regiment?'.' HHe asked. "Tho Black Watch!" replied I M the. old soldier proudly. "A fine regiment," said Sir lan.

r "Yes, we made them sit up," reB§ marked another member of the veteran sjuad when Sir lan questioned him of |H the battles for which he gained a LuckInlfjiow medal. fe'Thegeneral inquired who was the oldest V roan present, "lam sir! Eighty-eight!" :. replied one of the old men. " And' a very :; bright clear eye you've got, sir!" was the mWB?s What was your regiment,' asked the -'ftp distinguished soldier of another. Draw- ' rng >imself up proudly, and with the light -." of oth»r days in his eyes, the old man re- >• ~ plied, "The Old 'Die Hards,' sir—the 57th!" II To an r>d member of the Suffolk regiment Sir la? mentioned that he had seen f the present %ffolks quite recently, and 111 Hat they were now in India. "A fine lot of young fellows," was the comment which i -".pleased the old man immensely. ,v«."-' So did the general move along ||| tiei line, giving a cheery word to each man IssT" be passed. "Feeling well and hearty?" he inquired of one. "Hearty,.sir!" .was the ■i-'f old time response. "-, . Sir lan was greatly pleased to meet a !|| man who was at Khandahar before Lord Z'S* Eobcrts's famous march. He asked if the Igfman had been at' another historic Afghan battle. "Lucky for you!" he replied when SEtbe veteran said that he had not.. An .old soldier of the Irish Guards was fold |||o( the present state of the regiment. "It was in my brigade, and a cheery lot of men they were," said Sir lan. v :>' After the parade the visitor inspected |||m« home, declaring that he would "Jolly :>,4 Tell so and live there himself." ':, V. "It is. a wonderful thing for me to com; hers and see these medals, and see the men who have given so good.and loyal service in so many parts of the world," gmgudf the sreneral, in addressing the '.[Veterans.. He expressed appreciation of ;^ the'home and its surroundings.' "I feel BgWV happy stout you here," he con- ; eluded. .*;p<The veterans then gave three cheers for tneii' visitor. Some of the voices were thin, others were strong and full, but the ( cheer had; a fire of its own, and the ®M general understood.