HIGHLAND RIFLES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23045, 23 November 1936, Page 6

HIGHLAND RIFLES

EX-MEMBERS ASSOCIATION WELCOME TO PATRON The members of the Dunedin Highland Rifles Ex-members' Association gathered in force on Saturday night when a social evening was held for the purpose of extending a welcome to the patron of the association. Colonel A. Stoneham, of Gisborne. The president, Mr J. C. Rigby, occupied the chair, the guest of honour being piped to his chair by pipers of the Dunedin Highland Pipe Band. In addition to Colonel Stoneham, there were three other original members of the company present, these being Ex-Lieuten-ant D. Henderson, and ex-Sergeants Kennedy and Webster. The chairman extended a warm welcome to their guest of honour—their patron and the most distinguished member of ther: old company. He hoped that Colonel Stoneham would long be spared to occupy the position to which he had been elected by his old comrades. The chairman also welcomed four visitor? —Mr W. M'JKee, of the Wellington Highland Rifles, and Messrs J. M'Crorie, E. M'Crorie, and A. W. Martin.

The toast of "The Old Company was proposed by Mr J. Gillan, who referred to the efficiency and smartness of the Dunedin Highland Rifles, and spoke in reminiscent vein of many incidents which had occurred during the old volunteer days. In reply. ex-Captain Dempster said that the old company had been particularly fortunate in the fine team of commanding officers it had had during .its existence. He valued his association with the company more than any other institution he had been connected with, and was proud to.be associated with such a fine set of men. The toast of "Our Guest" was proposed by Mr J. M'Donald, who said that, although the Dunedin Highland Rifles was now non-existent, the friendships made during the old days were cemented at the annual reunions of the association. Colonel Stoneham took an honoured place among the men who had been in command of Highland brigades, and he had given wonderful service to the corps of which he had been commander. During the war. said Mr M'Donald. Highland regiments had been in the forefront of the battle in the early days of the conflict, and of the 30,000 men who had passed through their ranks. 8000 had been killed and 20,000 had been wounded. In these troublous times he knew they would all like to put the clock back in order that they might don uniforms again and be prepared to defend the Empire if the need arose.—(Applause.) . In reply, Colonel Stoneham said he greatly appreciated the welcome that had been given him that night. He had never forgotten the old corps and he would never forget his old friends, for, although he was growing old in years, he would always remain young in spirit. No organisation of its kind showed a better spirit than the Dunedin Highland Rifles, and he trusted that he would never do anything to lose their love and affection. The old company had done wonderful service in the past and had been an example to many other volunteer organisations. The spirit of the old days did not prevail to-day, continued the speaker, but he had no hesitation in saying that if the present generation found the Empire in trouble it would answer the call and would rise to the occasion. Thev were faced with the possibility of a greater war in the future, and they were all proud that the British Government had at last seen the necessity of arming in case of war. It was just as necessary for New Zealand to prepare as it was for other parts of the Empire, for what the nation had ii must hold. Other toasts honoured were:— Foundation Members," proposed by Mr K. Melville, and replied to by exLieutenant D. Henderson: and "Absent Comrades." proposed by Mr J. K. Macfie. During the evening a programme of musical items was presented as follows: —Bagpipe selections, pipers of the Dunedin Highland Pipe Band: songsMessrs J. C. M'Clymont, W. M'Kee. W. M'Kinlay, J. D. Cameron, and J. Robertson. STARVED TO DEATH