TRANSPORT PLATOON REUNION

Southland Times, Issue 24353, 6 February 1941, Page 5

TRANSPORT PLATOON REUNION

SOUTH ISLAND DRIVERS IN EGYPT (Official News Service) EGYPT, January 14. Of unusual interest and some significance as it was the first of its kind, the first “reunion” of the Transport Platoon of the 26th Battalion, New Zealand Expeditionary Force in Egypt, was marked by a smoke concert at the Hainan health resort on January 6. It was decided to hoi <t?. similar reunion every year. The guests of the evening were the officer commanding the platoon. Lieutenant R. Bethell, Culverden, and the platoon sergeant. A scroll bearing the signatures of all present was presented to Lieutenant Bethell, who replied in suitable terms. The men of this platoon, tie largest with the unit, were all tried drivers drawn from all parts of the South Island, and the fact was reflected in the programme. Under the chairmanship of Private J. McG. Benson (West Coast) the toast list, following “The King,” included the following: “The Old Diggers,” “Our Allies,” “Platoon 0.C.,” “Other Services” and “Absent Ones.” Items were contributed by Corporal F. Don (Nelson), Lance-Corporal E. James (Dunedin), Private J. McG. Benson (West Coast), M. Pratley (Port Chalmers), and instrumental numbers by Sergeant Costello (Nelson), Sergeant Philpot (Invercargill) and Private Peat (Otago Central). Sergeant Warren provided the accompaniments. Those who signed the scroll were:— J. A. Carman, N. S. Bennett, D. Miller, H. G. Philpot, A. G. Midgley, F. O. Delany, D. Bryan, W. E. Costello, E. Peat, H. G. Brunn, J. M. Sheppard, L. Gemmell, C. R. Huband, G. J. Nicolles, J. Kerr, C. D. Bailey, A. E. Clark, W. R. Page, D. A. Griffin, M. Metzgar, H. McKay, W. J. Samson, D. McLeod, J. M. Higgs, N. M. Samson, J. E. Denton, J. H. O’Sullivan, R. Black, E. H. Miller, R. Robinson, K. A. Pound, R. W. Lester, R. H. L. Hamilton, B. H. Norrie, I. W. Iles, W. E. McMeekan, F. Yager, M. A. Pratley, J. W. Edmonds, Eric James.