WINTON

Southland Times, Issue 24445, 27 May 1941, Page 10

WINTON

RETURNED SOLDIERS’ ASSOCIATION ANNUAL ■ REUNION About 140 returned soldiers from all parts of Southland attended the annual reunion of the Winton sub-branch of the Returned Soldiers Association. The president, Mr C. F. Grimwood, occupied the chair and Mr W. Woods was toastmaster. The toast list was interspersed with musical items and spirited selections by Mr E. Hunter’s orchestra. Community singing led by Mr Hunter was enjoyed. The chairman said it would be remembered that at their last reunion things had been bad. At that time the British Army had been fighting a death struggle in Europe—the brilliant rearguard action which had been successful. Our own troops were fast being mobiliized and some had already left for overseas. “Since then,” continued Mr Grimwood, “they have been in action and another rearguard action has been fought. I can safely say we are proud of them. They have upheld the dignity and traditions set by the old Expeditionary Force. It speaks volumes when those in authority thought fit to call on the New Zealanders, and the Australian troops, too, to fight that rearguard action in Greece while the British troops extricated themselves from that sector. Let us hope that the day will not be far distant when the war will terminate and our lads come back to New Zealand.” The toast of “Fallen Comrades” was honoured in the usual manner. The lights were dimmed and Requiem was sung by Mr W. Forde followed by the sounding of “Last Post” by Mr Hunter. “To praise the Navy is to paint the rose,” said the Rev. P. J. O’Neill in his reply to the toast, “Army, Navy and Air Force.” The Navy had a wonderful tradition behind it, he said, and each day we read or heard of some fresh deed and knew that it had not lost its punch. The Army was a new Army. It had had a wonderful trial and had taken a wonderful punishment. In the last war New Zealand soldiers had made a great name for themselves and that name was being kept up by our fighting forces today. The Air Force was a new creation. He thought the war was going to depend on the Air Force. If England could get sufficient aircraft it would bomb the Germans out and he was of the opinion that that was the only way to get them out. All would feel proud of the feats accomplished by the Air Force and he hoped its members would be increased and that the present supremacy in the air would be maintained. He hoped that in the near future we would see domination by one nation and one man crushed and that the peoples of the world would be restored to theii* own nationalities.

In reply to the toast “New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association,” Dr A. W. Owen-Johnston, president of the Invercargill Association, urged all to try to build up their association. There was a big job of work to be done. He was of the opinion that all the men who were in camp when the last war ended should be allowed membership in the association. There were about 10,000 men in camp at the time and it was not their fault that they did not get overseas. The toast “Medical and Nursing Services” was responded to by Mr A. Wachner and “The Visitors” by representatives of the various branches present. Items were given by Messrs Phillips, A. Brown, McPhee, McLaren and F. Tilley. Reference to tire success of Mr Wachner in the recent City Council elections was made by the toastmaster, Mr Woods, who congratulated him on behalf of the gathering.