SOUTH AFRICAN WAR VETERANS

Southland Times, Issue 23817, 15 May 1939, Page 8

SOUTH AFRICAN WAR VETERANS

ANNUAL REUNION OF ASSOCIATION GROWTH OF INVERCARGILL BODY War veterans, young and old, met in a happy reunion at the Invercargill South African War Veterans’ Association’s annual smoke concert on Saturday evening. There was a big attendance of members and visitors from the Dunedin Association and the country districts of Southland. The visitors included Mr Ben Ellis, president of the Dominion Association. Mr J. F. Forde was chairman. r . In proposing the toast of the guest of honour for the evening (Mr B. Ellis), Mr J. McDonald said that their Dominion president had taken a keen interest for many years in the work of the association and in the earliest days of the Invercargill branch had given great assistance to the association. “We thank him and his Dunedin comrades for joining us in our reunion, said Mr McDonald. Acknowledging the toast, Mr Ellis referred to the strength of the New Zealand Army today. “In Dunedin 40 years ago, there were more volunteers than there are now and we did not get paid for our services,” he said. We had to supply our own horses, rifles and equipment and found it a pleasure to do so.” Commending the Invercargill Association for its good work, he said today it was probably the strongest m New Zealand and although it had been slow in starting it was now so near the top that it could be looked upon as one of the strongest branches. , The toast to the Returned Soldiers Association was proposed by Mr R. Aitken, who said the association was a very active body and the South African war veterans had to thank it for the good work it had done on its behalf. “It is a great inspiration to us younger men to see you veterans looking so young,” said Mr P. Linton Hodge in reply. The assistance of the veterans at the annual Anzac Day parade was commendable. It was a fine sight to see them leading the parade and he hoped that they would be spared to do so for many years to come. The behaviour of the veterans in the South African War had been an inspiration to those who took part in the Great War, and he was satisfied that if anything serious should happen in the near future the younger generation would respond just as had the men in the previous wars. Replying to the toast to the Imperial Ex-Servicemen’s Association and the Legion of Frontiersmen, proposed by Mr P. Fraser, Mr R. Smith emphasized that the defence of New Zealand should be amply prepared in case of emergency. Mr T. McMurdo also replied to the toast. The chairman proposed the toast to Parliament. In reply, Mr J. Hargest, M.P., said that as one who had served in the last war he had not forgotten what was done at the South African War. The officers and men in the Great War had been glad of the advice received from the veterans. The spirit of comradeship shown by the veterans is one which we envy and I am convinced that we have a long way to go to reach their standard,” he said. Other toasts honoured were: Fallen Comrades, proposed by the chairman, Army, Navy and Air Force, (Captain J. C. Simpson-Mr A. E. Meredith), Our Friends, Our Former Enemies (Mr R. Aitken), Visiting Members from Country Districts (Mr M. T. Francis) and Our Dunedin Visitors (Mr J. McDonald -Messrs T. Crozier, L. Ellis, J. Thom and B. Ellis). . A musical programme was contributed by Messrs J. Tinker, R. Smith, D. St. C. McGregor and P. L. Hodge. Before the reunion the annual meeting was held and the following officers were elected: President, Mr J. F. Forde; vice-presidents, Messrs R. Aitken and T. Donaldson; committee, Messrs J. M. T. Donaldson and R. Aitken; secretary, P. Vickery, J. McDonald, J. Hughes, Mr M. T. Francis.