FUNCTIONS FOR SERVICEMEN

Southland Times, Issue 25666, 8 May 1945, Page 7

FUNCTIONS FOR SERVICEMEN

CLIFTON.— There was a record crowd of relations and friends in the hall to welcome home Gunner A. Checketts, Trooper E. Ross, StaffSergeant P. Ross and Driver V; Soper after over four years’ service in. the Middle East. The guests of honour were piped up to the stage by Piper C. Hall. Mr A. E. Gibb presided and expressed great pleasure at their return. He thanked then! for doing their duty and wished them health and success in the future. He then presented each with a framed address and a monetary gift as a token of appreciation from the residents of the district. Messrs E. McKenzie, G. McDermott and O. Smith endorsed the chairman’s remarks. Mr J. Calder, jun., made a presentation, on behalf of the Victory Club. The guests of honour, in acknowledging the gifts, , thanked the speakers. LIMEHILLS.— A large crowd attended a welcome home in the Limehills hall, the occasion being the return from overseas of Lance-Corporal J. McHugh (second time) and Privates E. Hammond and F. Carter (who was unable to attend). The chairman, Mr T. Morgan, welcomed the men on behalf of the Limehills Welcome Home Committee. Mr W. Woods mentioned that the guests had fulfilled their obligations to their country and now it was the country’s turn to honour the promises made when they went away. Mr C. Watson also spoke and Mr G. Kettle made the presentation. The guests were piped to the stage by Pipers Gilmour and McKerchar and a guard of honour was formed by returned men of the Limehills district. WAIKIWI. — A welcome home to district soldiers was held in the Waikiwi Hall. Mr C. Wilson presided, and extended a welcome to the following soldiers: Corporal M. D. Mclvor, LanceCoroparl J. Prichard, Private F. Ross, Gunners F. H. Broad, G. K. Sutherland, F. W. Watson, M. R. Waldron and T. Kitson and Bombardier W. R. Broad. The men were piped on to the stage by Piper L. Morton. Lieutenant-Colonel A. Cockerell and Mr H. Crawford, president of the R.S.A., addressed those present. Mrs A. Waters, secretary of the* Welcome Home Committee, presented each soldier with an envelope and visiting servicemen with cigarQUARRY HILLS.— At a well attended gathering in the Quarry Hills Hall, Staff Sergeant S. Birse was welcomed home from overseas by his friends. Mr T. A. Buckingham made the presentation and expressed his wish that the near future would see all the men home. Mr J. Robson (Tokanui) also spoke. TOKANUI.— A social and dance was held in the Tokanui Hall to welcome home Corporal J. Watson and Private W. Turner. Associated with them on the stage were Staff Sergeant S. Birse (Quarry Hills), Sergeant Baird and Private John Blair (Otara). The chairman, Mr J. Collie, extended to the guests a hearty welcome and made reference to the fact that Corporal Watson had been a prisoner of war and that Private Turner had been wounded during active service. Mr J. Robson and Mr D. Earwaker also spoke. Presentations were made by Mrs T. McNatty, for the parcels’ committee, and by Mrs C. McEwan, for the Tokanui Red Cross Society. Envelopes containing monetary gifts were presented to Corporal Watson and Private Turner by the chairman. The guests, in replying, warmly commended those who had sent parcels from the local 1