VETERANS OF MONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20669, 15 September 1930, Page 10

VETERANS OF MONS.

ANNIVERSARY OF RETREAT. REUNION OF MEMBERS. The third annual dinner of the Mons Veterans' Association was held on Saturday evening, the president, Captain J. Dawson, presiding over a gathering of about 60 members and guests. Among the latter were the president of the South African Veterans' Association, Colonel E. G. Eraser, the secretary of the Returned Soldiers' Association, Mr. E. 11. Sharp, the president of the Takapuna Ex-Service-men's Club, Mr Bryco Hart, and representatives of tho White Ensign Association.

"Wo are hero to celebrate the anniversary of the retreat from Mons," said the president, who proposed tho toast of tho King. "Wo will never forget tho men who have gone before. Wo fellows of tho regular army aro like a family, and we feel their loss liko a family feels the loss of a son. The men of Mons set a fine example to tho younger generation, and I hope that if over tho necessity arises to defend the Empire, they will fight as well as the men of Mons did."

"When tho association was inaugurated five years ago, wo thought we were inaugurating a comradeship, being all strangers in New Zealand, like that which in 19i4 held us together at the beginning of the war," said Mr. N. F. Elliott, who made a plea for greater support of tho. association. "The association has now' overcome all difficulties, and wo are in our fifth year. 1 feel that tho association will carry on for many years to come." The toast of tho Army, Navy and Air Force was proposed by Sergeant-Major Andrews, while the secretary, Mr. W. C Pilgrim, proposed that of kindred associations, which he stated ho, would like to see .meet in a combined function each year.