SOUTH AFRICAN VETERANS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18332, 26 February 1934, Page 2

SOUTH AFRICAN VETERANS

MEETING OF ASSOCIATION LETTERS FROM OVERSEAS The monthly meeting of the South African Veterans’ Association was held in the Gisborne Military Rand room on Saturday evening, Veteran J. Linden presiding over a fair attendance of members. An- apology for his absence owing to a prior jengagement was received from the president, Veteran George Crawshaw. Correspondence was received from Mr. Malcolm Fraser, Uhder-Seeretary of the Industrial Affairs Department, with reference to the soldiers’ headstones universal pattern. “The slab itself with fern leaf and cross costs £4 12s, and letters extra,” stated Mr. Fraser. “If relatives require these headstones they should communicate with this office, either direct or through the hon. secretary of the local branch, when art inscription form would be provided; on the return of which, with remittance for the cost, the stone would be ordered from the contractors, relatives to make their own arrangements for the erection, and advising the name of the •monumental mason that will do the work, so that it can be consigned to him on completion.” “Regarding your inquiry as to the number of members of .the'New Zealand contingents who have died since the conclusion of the Boer*War, I regret that it will take some time to complete this information, as deaths of South African veterans have not been recorded separately from veterans of other wars prior to the late war.” LONDON BRANCH SECRETARY A long and interesting letter was received from Mr. G. E. Ford, of Rainham, Essex, stating that he had been appointed hon. secretary of the London branch, at a general meeting in October last, Mr. J. McMasters having resigned through ill-health, since when “lie had spent some sleepless nights thinking of what might have been done, and what has to be done.”

He had served in the 57th Middlesex Regiment (Die Hards), which had seen much service in New Zealand in its early days in the Maori War. Early in 1902 he was in charge of a blockhouse at Klerksdorp, when ho had seven New Zealanders with him, and he was known as the “Tommy corporal” to them, and he felt very pleased to get in touch with their association. He had also served in the last war in the M.T. section of the A.{3.C. At the present time he was asking for bandsmen and instrumentalists, so as to form a band of their own. He had read Tho Veteran with great interest, and was looking forward to receiving further issues. He also wished to thank members for the Christmas gift of butter, which arrived when the larder was nearly empty, and would advocate their members buying it in future. Living close to Tilbury Docks, he would be pleased to render any assistance to members if they would let him know.

It was decided to write to Mr. Ford and thank him, and also inform him that Sergeant-Major Bexar, an old Die Hard, of Wellington, had recently celebrated his ninety-sixth birthday, and that another of the “old brigade,” Michael Gill, also 96 pears of age, had died during the week, leaving Sergeant-Major Bezar as the last representative. A LETTER FROM CANADA Mr. Alfred Walker, of Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada, advised that he had received copies of the Gisborne papers, also the last issue of The. Veteran, and that lie had passed them round to the members to read, as showing how one part of the Empire is connected with another. Ho mentioned that in the course of his work he handled some papers covering a shipment of goods from the Ivayser sill: works of Sherbrooke consigned to Messrs. Guthrie and Maddock, of Gisborne. At the time of writing the weather was cold, 30 degrees below zero; it had been as low as 48 degrees,-making life very hard for the 1 poorer people. Letters were also received from Lieut. M. Archdail, R.M., of H.M.S. Diomede, and Engineer-Commander Fletcher, of H.M.S. Dunedin.

The sick visitors reported on their visits to sick members in their homes, and in the hospital. Veteran Dick Smith was on the dangerously ill list. Veterans Swarbriek and Jefferies were, doing as well as could be expected. The lion, secretary reported that at the invitation of the management he had

attending the screening of the picture “Cavalcade.’'’ The librarian, Veteran F. Parker; reported that “Commando;” by Colonel Denys Reitz, was missing, was 1 out on loan, and the record of who had had it last was mislaid. He asked the borrower to return it as soon as possible, as others were waiting to read it. I A church parade will be hold on Sunday, May 27. ... , Some, discussion took place regarding the reunion, the suggestion being that it should be held on Saturday, June. 2. Nothing definite was fixed, but the final arrangements will be made at the next meeting.