"THE FORGOTTEN MEN"

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19338, 31 May 1937, Page 12

"THE FORGOTTEN MEN"

SOUTH AFRICAN VETERANS ASSISTANCE FROM R.S.A. A3S< )CIATION'S RISLTNION Cheerful reminiscences of the days of the South African War in 1899-1902 mingled with sad tales of those who had "gone before" were exchanged on Saturday evening at the annual reunion <>f members of the Gisborne branch of the South African War Veterans' Association of New Zealand. During the evening the association

war. arr.urod of the continued support of the Returned Soldiers' Association in it;', needs. The president, Mr, F. Collin, was in the chair.

A welcome was extended to members by the president, who remarked upon the size and representative nature of the gathering.

After the loyal toast had been honoured, the toast master, Veteran George Crawshaw, asked members to confirm the association's loyalty to the King and Queen by singing "Land of Hope and Glory." The singing was led by Mr. W. P. G. Bignell and the choruses were entered into with spirit. "Your minds go back to those cobbers you left behind on the veldt, and I know that each year one or two are missing from the ranks in the doom," said the association's padre, Canon A. P. Hall, in proposing the toast to "Fallen Comrades." This year the absent members were Veterans .T. Gibson, Jim Allen, Tom llibbert, J. McConaghy, Jim Hoynter, and Chas. Taylor. Canon Hall likened death to passing through a doorway into another room in the same house. Friendship and love were nonmaterial and death could not stop them. He was sure that members at that moment were thinking of one or two of their friends who had ".gone on," and just as they thought of them they thought of their friends still living. Honoured witn Feeling "They are very much nearer than you think," he added. "I am not a spiritualist, but I am Christian and think that the more we think of the/n the nearer they are and the more they think of us."

In honouring the toast he asked the assembly to gather round and wish them welfare, peace, and happiness. All stood in silence while Mr. P. Hockley sang "Requiem,',,' and the toast was honoured with feeling.

In proposing the toast to "Imperial Forces," Veteran Crawshaw said he thought there was no more appropriate time for the enthusiastic reception of such a toast. A few years ago the Imperial forces were almost ml and other nations in Europe were ablo to "give us a smack in the eye," but then Britain woke up and to-day the forces of the Empire were as strong as ever, and before long they would be much stronger. Everything depended on the forces becoming as strong as possible.

Veteran Thompson replied, saying that he had been in Australian and New Zealand contingents in various parts of the world and all the men he had mixed with had been good comrades.

On behalf of the Gisborne branch of the Returned Soldiers' Association, Major A. S: Muir proposed the toast of the "South African Veterans' Association," which, he said, had been in existence for 35 years. His association, had recently celebrated its twenty-first year, and it had been said that a large amount of credit was due to them for sticking together for such a long time, but he: thought that those sentiments could be better applied to the South African Veterans' Association. Membership in the South African association was declining now, but it had been an inspiration to the U.S.A., which always would be ready to help it. "Big Snow" Not Wanted

As a comparatively young man who had retired recently from the active list, Major Muir said that no one wished to see the nation in another

"big show." Following a period when England had given many concessions and disarmed a large part of her forces she had awakened to the real position and now was building up her army in the interests of the peace of Europe. The tendency now was to try to obviate war by arming, and he asked that the association support the Government in its preparations for the .defence of New Zealand. The men did not want to fight, but if it was necessary he knew they would rally round in great strength.

The secretary of the South African association, Veteran .1. V. Scott, thanked Major Muir for the help of - the U.S.A. lie was one of the founders of the branch in Gisborne and had learned that on the occasion of Anzac Day the veterans had been referred to as the "Forgotten Men," but the position was that they had been forgotten by the younger generation. He referred also to the assistance given by the press. The Minister of 'Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, had apologised for his absence, and the Mayor, Mr. D. W. Coleman, M.P., had told him that the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, who had been invited to attend the reunion, was indisposed.

Veteran J. Hurrey also thanked Major Muir for the assistance .given by the R.S.A. A member of the executive of the U.S.A., Mr. P. Gordon, said that the work his association did was in the interests of returned soldiers generally. The toast to "Our Guests" was proposed by Veteran A. .1. It. Kirkham, and responded to by Mr. J. Kane; "The Entertainers" was proposed by Veteran I. Lyndon, and responded to by Mr. G. Douglas, and a compliment was paid to Veteran Scott by Veteran Collin, who proposed the toast to "Our Secretary."

During the evening a musical programme, arranged by Veteran Crawshaw, was greatly enjoyed, while community singing was entered into by all. The songs rendered by Messrs. Bignell and Hockley and a recitation by Veteran Cameron were greatly appreciated. Mr. S. Dwyer was at the piano in the orchestra and he also accompanied the vocal numbers.