FIRST REUNION

Southland Times, Issue 21264, 10 December 1930, Page 8

FIRST REUNION

PALESTINE TROOPS. HAPPY EVENING SPENT. Very few reunions of returned soldiers have been marked with the spontaneity and goodfellowship which attended the first annual reunion dinner of Southland members of the New Zealand Forces which : served tn Sinai and Palestine during the war. The dinner took place in the Federal Tea Rooms last evening and was attended by 50 ex-mounted men from various parts of ;tbe province. Mr Hugh Ritchie, who presided, mentioned in his introductory remarks that it had been ascertained that. 134 members of the New Zealand Forces serving in Sinai and Palestine were now resident in Southland. A number of these men had desired to renew old friendships and relate experiences and it had been decided to hold a dinner. He said that he hoped it would become an annual event and that, excellent as was the attendance that evening, there would be many more at the next reunion. Mr Ritchie spoke of the important part played by the troops in Palestine in bringing the war to an end. It was the shattering of the morale of the Turks that contributed to Germany’s seeking an armistice. There was an inclination in some quarters to belittle the part played by the troops in Palestine, but this was not justified.

Before the toast list was proceeded with all present stood in silence in memory of comrades who had passed away. After the Loyal Toast, Mr L. R. Loixlell proposed the toast of the “Army, Navy and Air Forces,” Mr A. B. Johnston replying.

In proposing the toast of “The New Zealand Forces in Sinai and Palestine,” Mr M. Kirkpatrick said that he frequently heard people speak of the easy time the men who served in Palestine had. It seemed 'that the major issues of the Western Front obscured all the minor issues. The men who served in Sinai and Palestine, however, would hardly agree that it hail been a holiday and a picnic. He thought they could justly say that they did “fiftyfifty” with the troops who served elsewhere. That they had had many hardships to endure was being borne out by the fact that so many men were now feeling the effects of their service. Mr Kirkpatrick concluded by referring to the great bond of brotherhood existing among all who fought in Palestine.

Messrs D. F. Lcckie (Mounted Regiments), J. Richardson (Machine Gun Squadron) and A. Drake (Camel Corps) responded to the toast.

The toast of “Australian Forces in Palestine” (proposed by Mr N. D. McKenzie and responded to by Mr F. Fitzgibbon, 2nd. Light Horse Regiment, A.1.F.) was also honoured.

After the toasts a very enjoyable time was spent in reminiscences, tales of t he desert, of the flies, and of unrehearsed incidents causing many a laugh. Songs were contributed by Messrs D. Leckie and S. Richards, Mr N. James being the accompanist.