FIRST CONTINGENT

Otago Witness, Issue 3215, 27 October 1915, Page 53

FIRST CONTINGENT

SOUTH AFRICAN VETERANS

AGAIN FORGATHER,

On the afternoon of October 21, 1899, the First New Zealand Contingent for the South African war left Wellington. On Thursday night, in the unavoidable absence of Brigadier-general Robin, Sergeant-major S. H. Tuck presided at the annual reunion and dinner of the surviving members, which was held in Wellington. The record of the association embraces the South African campaign of 1899-1901, with such proud names as those of the “Relief of xximberley,” “ Paardeburg,” “ Driefontein,” “ Wittebergen,” “Johannesburg, 1 ’ and “Diamond Hill.” Among the letters and telegrams of apology was one from a war hospital in the Old Country and one from Lieutenantcolonel Hughes, D. 5.0., N.Z.S.C., dated from Tenedos —“ Good luck, love to all, best wishes.” An interesting letter, written with his left hand, was received from Captain Fred Wood, ill in hospital in England. Captain Wood took part in the taking of No. 3 Outpost, and was put out of action by an old-time bomb which struck him on the right funnybone, very seriously damaging the upper arm. Several letters were also dated from Gallipoli. FIRSTS AT THE FRONT. Sergeant-major Tuck said that they had a very proud record. They had 29 officers and men now serving at the front :—Majorgeneral R. H. Davies, C. 8., Lieutenantcolonels J. G. Hughes, D. 5.0., N.Z.S.C., D’Arcy Chaytor, W. R. N. Maddocks, R.A., Majors J. H. Whyte, N.Z.S.C., E. Harrow ell, H. S. Or hell, G. Mitchell, H. D. 0.- Ward, R.A., E. Bartlett, D. 5.0., C. R. Neale, G. R. Miller, R.A., W. C. Morrison, N.Z.S.C., Captains M. E. Lindsay, F. A. Wood, A. H. Wilkie, H. W. Smith, W. T. Pitt, J. J. Raynes, A. Le C. Bartrop, Lieutenants A. Batchelor, E. J, Freeth, S. Joyce, Eegt.-Sergeant-major C. H. Bould, Quartermaster-sergeant N. J. C. M‘Donald, Sergeants W. Mahoocl, W. Johnston, Saddler J- A. Aitken. Besides these there are four in camp—Captain D. E. Cardale, N.Z.S.C., Sergeant-major W. T. Burr, Band-sergeant F. Fox, Corporal J. A. Horne. Field-marshal Sir John D. P. French, G. was re-elected patron of the association ; Brigadier-general A. W. Robin (Commandant New Zealand Forces} was re-elected president; the vice-presidents were re-elected as under ;—Major-general R. H. Davies, C. 8., Lieutenant-colonel W. R. N. Maddocks, R.A., Lieutenant-colonel J.Gethin Hughes, D. 5.0., N.Z.S.C., Lieu-tenant-colonel D’Arcy Chaytor, Surgeon-Lieutenant-colonel Burns, Major E. Bartlett, D. 5.0., Major G. N. Johnston, Major H. D. 0. Ward, R.A., Captain M. E. Lindsay (7th Dragoon Guards), Captain W. S. Canavan, Captain R. S. Matthews, Captain C. P. Rogers. Messrs J. F. Rockstrovv and T. W. Brown were re-elected trustees; and Mr Claude L. Jewell was reappointed lion, secretary and treasurer and editor of the Bulletin. The toast of the “ Army and Navy” was given by Mr J. M'Pherson, and responded to by Messrs W. Blenkhorn and F. E. Beamish (Sixth Contingent). Mr J. F. Rockstrow proposed the health of “Firsts Serving Abroad.’’ Major-gene-ral Davies, he said, was now a majorgeneral in the British army, and had done exceedingly well. He had distinguished himself particularly in the retreat from Mons, his division doing very excellent work, capturing a lot of guns from the Germans in their rearguard actions. He need hardly say that it was a most unusual thing to strike back in a rearguard action and take guns from the encmy.-(Ap-plause.) Lieutenant-colonel Hughes was now officer commanding the Conterhurv Infantry Battalion at the Dardanelles, doing excellent work. Lieutenant-colonel D’Arcv Chaytor was at the Dardanelles with the ’Marine Division; Lieutenantcolonel Maddocks was chief of staff to General Davies; while Lieutenant-colonel Richardson, well-known to so many in New

Zealand as a master gunner, had recently

received his C.M.Gr. —(Applause.) Majof Whyte, according to private advices received in Palmerston North some months ago, had been seriously wounded oy a shrapnel shell in the neck; Major Harrowed was also wounded; Major Mitchell had been wounded twice; and Major Ward was with the Royal Horse Artillery where in France” j Major Bartlett was across at Antwerp with the naval contingent; and Major Neale was doing good work with the Veterinary Corps in Egypt. In one way or another, in short, said Mr Rockstrow, their old comrades were distinguishing themselves at the front, and he was sure all present wished them well.— (Loud applause.) The toast was drunk with great enthusiasm and musical honours. Sergeant-major W. T. Burr responded on behalf of the “ Firsts Serving Abroad.” If he had his way, he said, he would bo at the front, but he ‘had been retained in New Zealand for the purpose of training those who were going to the front. It was held that he could do better service in that way, and he had to obey orders. — (Applause.) He hoped that the old “Firsts” would band themselves together into a “more-men” association, and do all they could to encourage recruiting in the present crisis. If each man could get -one man to help his old pals at the front, so much the better. ■ They in the training camp would do the rest.—(Applause.)