A MILITARY WEDDING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3314, 19 September 1917, Page 50

A MILITARY WEDDING.

Featherston Military Camp "has been the scene of many interesting functions during the past two years; but it was not until Wednesday, August 29, that a full military wedding of an officer was solemnised there. The ceremony took place in the chapel of the United Institute, the officiating mlister being Chaplain-captain Brown. The contracting parties were Miss August© Rogen (late of Dunedin), youngest daughter of Mr Frederick Rogen, of St. Clair, and Lieutenant Selwyn -Joyce, officer commanding Thirty-third Specialist Company, and son of the late Mr John Joyce, M.P., Lyttelton. Fellow-officers of the bridegroom formed a guard of honour, their drawn swords constituting an arch, beneath which the happy pair walked from the institute

dtepa io tho waiting car. In addition, tho members of the bridegroom's company lined the road leading through the camp, and the attendance of many ladies and hundreds of soldiers made the scene a most impressive one. Tho bride, who presented a charming appearance, was attired in a smartlytailored coat-frock of fine cream gaberdine cut on graceful lines that helped to set pff the stylish French model toque of white tagcl straw, worn with a handsome white osproy, a dainty finishing touch to an elegant ensemble. She wore her present from the bridegroom—a diamond and pearl ring. The attendant bridesmaid (Miss Eveline Campbell) was in cremo pailette very prettily arranged in the latest pannier effect. Her present was a solid silver manicure set in a roan morocco case. The best man was Lieutenant Hobbs, while Lieutenant Vickerman filled the role of groomsman. Among those present at the ceremony wero Mrs M'Vicar and Miss M'Kay (from Wellington), Miss Bercsford (of Alfredton), and Misses Simmonds and Stewart (of Masterton) .

The wedding breakfast was celebrated at the Empire Hotel, Featherston, the guests including the following:—Mrs M'Vicar, Mrs Brunt, Mrs M'Killop, Mrs Miller, Mrs M'Crea. Mis Dawn, Mrs Lane, Miss Gullinane, Miss Donys, and Miss Stewart, Colonel H. P. Adams, C.M.G., Major Sweetzer, Captain Silcock, Captain Hoar, and Captain M'Killop, Lieutenants Lo Cran, Nimmo, Ready, C'ahill, M'Kellar, Price, Dower, Wells, Miller, Strachan, Murray, Guinness, Herring, Thompson, Finlayson, Nicholas, Dawn, Raines, Hill, Walsho, Thompson, Curry, and Mander. Both the bride and bridegroom were born in Dunedin, and arc the daughter and son of old identities respectively. The 1 " toast of "The King" was proposed by the Commanant (Colonel N. P. Adams, C.M.G.), and that of "Tho Bride and Bridegroom" was submitted in a. few felicitous phrases by Chaplain-captain Brown. The bridegroom proposed "The Bridesmaid," the best man (Lieutenant Hobbs) responding. "Tho Army and Navy," coupled with the name of Colonel Adams, C.M.G., was proposed by Lieutenant R. H. Nimmo. Captain Hoar proposed the health of "The Ladies." The function terminated with the singing of the National Anthem.

A feature of the afternoon was the playing of the Fcatherston Camp Military Band, under Bandmaster R. Watson.

The bridegroom, was a trooper in the* First Contingent sent to the Boer war (the youngest member) and lieutenant in the Eighteenth Contingent. He then went to the United States and engaged in journalistic work. He went to Mexico, and fought with Madero, and later ran four machine guns for Carranza. When the United States intervened he joined the Texan Rangers. He left New York on May 5, and 'on arriving at Wellington was once again in khaki, and" is now O.C. Thirty-third Specialists Machine Givn Co. _ Two brothers are at the front. The bride has three brothers and a sister (nurse) at the front.