SOUTH AFRICAN VETERANS’ ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19500, 8 June 1925, Page 10

SOUTH AFRICAN VETERANS’ ASSOCIATION.

THE PEACE OF VEREENIGING. MEMORIAL SERVICE. A memorial service in connection with the Peace of Yeroenigiug was hold at the Fallen Soldiers’ Monument in the Oval yesterday. It was the twenty-third anniversary of the conclusion of the Boer war, and tiie memorial service was largely attended. On the platform were the Mayor (Mr ii. L. I TuployJ, Mrs Williamson (Royal Red Cross!, who was tho principal nursing sister in South Africa at the time of the war, Major Bull, 0.0 Otago District, Colonel Staith, and one or two others. The service was conducted by the j Rev. D. Dutton, who was in South Africa ; during tho war period. About 80 of tho men who served in tho war attended; also | the executive of tho Returned Soldiers Association, members of tho Otago Officers’ Club, and about a dozen Imperial veterans. A hymn having been sung, Major Bell read a portion of the Scriptures, the Rev. D. Dutton then engaging in prayer. The j band of the Ist Otago Battalion, under the ' direction of Signor Squariso, played Ben- , net’s “In Mempriam,” at the conclusion of which a number of wreaths wore placed upon the monument, and Sergeant-major ! E. Hunter sounded tho “Last Post.” After t another hymn had been sung the sergeantmajor sounded the “Reveille,” and the pro- j ceedings concluded with the Benediction , being pronounced by the Rev. D. Dutton and tho band playing tho National Anthem. ’ The Hev. D. Dutton, in addressing those present, said they had again met to pay , their tribute to tho memory of their fallen j comrades. Ho did not need, nor I did ho in any jingoistic sense in- ' tend, to glorify war as war. Ho thought that most people who had a heart in them had an aversion to war, and wo know that was true of those who had had any experience of its horrors. Therefore they were not gathered together to glorify war, but they realised that there , wore even worse evils than war. They j know that there were national and inter- j national conditions, disease and crimes, which only war could rectify, and surely it was a tremendous responsibility that rested upon statesmen to lot loose tho dogs of ; war. We believed in peace on earth and ■ goodwill towards men. The Prophet Isaiah I had said that the fruits of righteousness j wore peace, but until wo got national and | international righteousness, justice, and fair play wars were sure to go on. Some said that modem warfare would become so unacceptable that men would not further face the position. He had little hope for the abolition of war from a consideration of that kind. Ho felt sure whatever the con- I ditions wore men would he ready to face ' them. It was a bettor spirit widened and broadened —a spirit of brotherhood that was going to bring about tho con-' ditions which all so earnestly desired. When he stood on tho veldt with his comrades near tho little village of Vcreeniging, just on tho banks of tho Vaal River, where they held their peace service to celebrate the conclusion of tho war that had been so long drawn out between tho Boers and ourselves, his text hod been that it was a good thing. At the conclusion of that war they felt that there were many things to be thankful for. One, for instance, had been that the war had ended in a victory for tho British. It was not in a selfish sense that they gave thanks to God for that victory, for they felt in their hearts that it was not only good for themselves and their Empire but for tho Boers that tho British had won. Wo all knew that the prosperity of South Africa had been vastly advanced os a result of that war. He would like to quote a few words by General Smuts, who had been one of tho best generals tho Boers had produced. He was indeed a great soldier. General French, speaking ol General Smuts, had said he was one of tho best soldiers ho had ever contended against. After quoting General Smuts, Mr Dutton said he wanted those present for a moment or two to realise what such a comment meant coming fiom such a source. That man hud fought against us {Hirsistentiy with splendid courage and soldierly skill, and yet when tho Boor cause was lost and victory came to the sido of the British in tho course of time Britain had handed to tho Beers much greater freedom than they had over had before. No wonder General Smuts realised that everything in the interests of his cause had been gained by tho action of the British. After again quoting General Smuts, Mr Dutton said many other good things had come out of what had happened 23 years ago. They had (ought the war with clean hands, and their enemies had fought the war with clean hands Wo know that in war there were bound to be episodes and instances that did not just square with everything we might like, but that could not be otherwise in war. Taking a broad general attitude nil over our men in tho war had fought a fair fight. A Boer had said, “It has been a fair fight and you are winning.” Ho (Mr Dutton) replied, “Yes, wo win, but you have given ns a tough fight for it, and there is nobdy respects you more_ than tho man who has had to stand up against von.” After it was all over they shook hands with tho Boors, and said that they had found men worthy of their steel, and worthy to bo associated with them under the British flag. ’Mr Dutton again nuoted General Smuts, and com in on ted on what the Boer loader had said as valuable testimony from such a man. These men wore »nw glorying in tho fact tnat they belonged to tho British Empire, and under a flag that would last—tho grand old flag. And General Smuts had said that under it right, religion, culture, and everything was safe. The grand old flag stood (or everything that was high and noblo in British aspiration. and when he looked at it he looked particularly at tho Southern Cross portion. Ho felt that these stars shown with brighter lustre than they had over shone before bocause of the splendid actions performed by Ihe sons of New Zealand on behalf of the Empire. They thought that day of tho outcome of tho war. A Boer had' said to him, “Wo never expected you people from the colonics would come and fight against us.” Tho Boors had been made to believe that, and he said, “We were deceived in that matter.” A number of dear friends bad passed .vway in that war, and their memorial stood, and ho trusted that the time would never come when they would forgot what they owed to them for tho splendid service they had rendered South Attica. He also trusted they would never forget the splendid service of those who had taken part in tho wider field of the late war. Ctming generations would realise that the blessings thev enjoyed had noi come to them ns a matter of course, but were blood-bought. They would realise that they had been bought at, a great price. These men departed had gone bevond our ken, but they still lived and their actions would be remembered by the community for all time. Mr Dutton concluded by thanking all who had assisted in the service, and those who had been in attendance «■ WELLINGTON CELFBR A TTONS. (Pee United Feess Association.) WELLINGTON, June 7. A church parade of South African veterans was held at St, Peter s Church to-day. Maori war veterans and returned soldiers were also represented. The service was conducted by Chaplain Compton. Lieu-tenant-colonel Bates read the lesson, and the Rev. Mr Watson gave an address on “Loyalty.” The social reunions of South Africans and tho Rifle Brigade were held last night.