OVERSEAS FORCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24254, 23 March 1940, Page 12

OVERSEAS FORCE

THE THIRD ECHELON REGISTRATIONS IN OTAGO SEVENTEEN ON THURSDAY A steady flow of recruits for the third echelon of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force is being received at the Kensington Drill Hall. The registrations on Thursday totalled 17, and of these three single men and three married men with children withheld their names from publication. The names available are as follows:

Group 2 Single Men Waller Robert Porter. Brian Lancelot Dunning. William Eric McFarlane. Victor Wikland James Ramsay Sinclair. Jack Fox. Percy Cecil Lewis. Earnie Parker Hill. John William Dee. Roderick Drummond McKechnie George Macdonald.

MR E. P. MEACHEM ENLISTS NEW ZEALAND FIELD ENGINEERS SERVICE IN GREAT WAR (Per United Press Association) BLENHEIM, Mar. 21. Mr E P. Meachen, M.P. for Marlborough, has offered himself for overseas service with the New Zealand Field Engineers, and has been advised that he will be required to enter camp at Burnham next month. He expects to leave for overseas with the First Reinforcement of the Engineers' Company sailing with the third echelon.

Mr Meachen has had a long and varied experience in building and construction work in many parts of New Zealand. Before his election to Parliament in the Labour Party's interests in 1935, he was engaged in bridge building and the installation of mining equipment. Since his election he has been acting as co-opted member to the Minister of Public Works (Mr R. Semple). ... , ,•, In the Great War Mr Meachen held non-commissioned rank with the Field Engineers, leaving with the Fourth Reinforcements in 1915. He served on Gallipoli and in France, concluding his service with the Army of Occupation in Germany. He returned to New Zealand in 1919.

THE SECOND ECHELON RETURN TO CAMP PREPARATIONS FOR SEND-OFF On Wednesday morning troops at present on leave in Dunedin will return north to their respective camps. Preparations, embodying a parade by returned soldiers and the Band of the Ist Battalion Otago Regiment, have now been completed to give the departing men a fitting send-off. The parade will assemble at 8 a.m. on Wednesday at the following points: Returned soldiers and the Bugle Band at R.S.A. rooms, Moray place; the Band of the Ist Battalion Otago Regiment and the personnel of the second echelon of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (under the command of Major T. Pugh) at the Queen's Gardens, where they will be joined by the returned soldiers and the Bugle Band.

The parade will leave the Queen's Gardens at 3.15, the order of march being: Bugle Band, returned soldiers, Band of the Ist Battalion, and the second echelon men. The route to be followed will be via Lower High street, Rattray street, Princes street, Octagon North, Stuart street, Castle street, Anzac square to the northern gate of the railway station. On arrival at the station the returned soldiers will form a guard of honour, dividing their column into two double ranks. The members of the special force will march between in columns of threes. The parade will turn north, facing the speakers, who will be the Mayor (Mr A. H. Allen) and the president, of the Returned Soldiers' Association (Mr J. M. White). At 8.45 the men of the second echelon will march to the station and to their allotted carriages. The gates of the station will be closed to the public until this is completed. The train is due to leave at 9.5.

OFFICERS ENTERTAINED FUNCTION AT CLUB ROOMS Officers of the second echelon, who are at. present on leave in Dunedin, were entertained id an informal function at the Officers' Club on Thursday afternoon, when there were some 30 or 40 officers present. Good wishes for successful campaigning and a safe return were expressed by the president of the club, Lieuten-ant-colonel J. McPherson, who said lie was sure the officers and men of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force would worthily uphold the high traditions established by their predecessors.

HIGHCLIFF SOLDIERS A FAREWELL SOCIAL A farewell social was tendered to Private Leslie Robertson at Highcliff School Hall on Tuesday night last, when there was a large attendance to do him honour. The chairman (Mr James Farquhar) said he was sure the Peninsula boys would not be found wanting. During the last war 51 from Highcliff and 49 from Sandymount had served overseas. The local minister (Mr Lindon) made the presentation, which consisted of a shaving outfit, and spoke briefly of the good qualities of Private Robertson. A musical programme was contributed, those assisting being Mrs J. Farquhar, Misses Roseveare Smith, and Wilson. Messrs H Oates, D. J. S. Robertson, J. Robertson, and Master Wilson. Messrs Moir and Mackay, two musicians from the city, kindly provided the music for the dance which followed.

HONOURING THE TROOPS EX-SERVICEMEN TO PARADE All ex-servicemen are asked to parade at the Returned Soldiers' Association club rooms at 8 o'clock on Wednesday morning to honour the members of the second echelon who will leave for the north by special train. The ex-servicemen will march via Burlington street to join the second echelon at the Queen's Gardens, and from there the parade will move via the Bank of New Zealand Corner, Princes street, the Octagon, to the Railway Station. Arrangements have been made at the Queen's Gardens foi kit bags to be placed on a van. and labels will also be obtainable.