SOLDIERS HONOURED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23615, 27 March 1940, Page 12

SOLDIERS HONOURED

MEN OF SECOND ECHELON PRESENTATION CEREMONIES Over 300 residents of Howick and the surrounding district attended a reception to 12 district members of the second echelon of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force at the 1-1 owick Town Hall on Monday night. The speakers were Mr. L. B. White, chairman of the Howick Town Board, Mi -. J. Crawford, president of the Returned Soldiers' Association, and Mr. K. B. Tennent, president of the Howick branch of the National Party. Each of the 12 men was presented with a safety razor. The'gifts were acknowledged by Captain A. C. Trousdale Eight soldiers of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Eorcc previously connected with the Ellerslie Presbyterian Church -were honoured at a social gathering held in the church hall yesterday evening. Three of the soldiers, V. White, T. .Arnold and A. Milligan. are serving overseas with the first those present being Captain G. L. Mather. Lieutenant C. A. Ferguson, Sergeant W. 13. Dovitt and Corporal .T. Aitken Bombardier J. Hill was unavoidably absent. Following an address by the minister, the Rev. D. R. McDonald, the men. were presented with copies of the New Testament, while Lieutenant Ferguson received a cheque in recognition of his long service as church organist. Presentations were made by the Mayoress of Whangarei. Mrs. W. Jones, on behalf of the Women's Patriotic Committee, to (50 Whangarei members of the second echelon of tho F.xpcditionary Force, at a patriotic dance held in the Whangarei Town Hall. The Mayor also spoke to the men. while Lieutenant E. V. Fry, replied on behalf' of the troops. A civic reception was extended to soldiers of the Ellerslie district by the Ellerslie Borough Council last night. The Mayor, Mr. IT. J. White, presided. Fight soldiers were present, while those serving with the first echelon were represented by next-of-kin. A musical programme was given and money belts were presented to each soldier.* Mr. J. Toy spoke on behalf of the Returned Soldiers' Association.