R.S.A. RE-UNION

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 62, Issue 4429, 23 May 1941, Page 5

R.S.A. RE-UNION

TE AWAMUTU BRANCH. AN ENJOYABLE EVENING. The twenty-second annual reunion of the Te Awamutu Returned Sol-, diers’ Association was held in the Town Hall on Wednesday evening last, and, attended by over 165 men who had seen active service, was a distinct social success. The guest of honour was Lieutenant R. H. Wynward, Divisional Cavalry, 2nd N.Z. E.F., who was recently invalided back from Egypt. The President (Mr C. O. Edmonds), after the toast of “ His Majesty the King ” had been received with musical honours, extended a hearty welcome to the visitors, especially to the one nursing sister present, Mrs A. G. Warburton. (Applause.) He desired to extend a special welcome to the guest of the evening, Lieutenant R. H. Wynyard, whom, as a soldier, he did not want to embarrass with many good words, but he could say that the members of the Second Expeditionary Force had already proved themselves good fighters, upholding the worthy traditions of the past. '{’he President then read a number of . apologies, including one. from Colonel C. J. Pierce, mention of whose name drew forth a round of applause. “ABSENT COMRADES.” Mr H. M. Andrew ( then proposed a silent toast to “Absent Comrades,” saying that it was their duty to remember those Who had failed to return and others who had died since. At this stage the most impressive incident of the evening occurred. The lights in the hall were turned off, and those on the stage turned full on, revealing a touching tableau of “In Remembrance ” in the shape of a floral cross, draped effectively witli the Union .Jack. At this juncture Mr Andrew recited clearly and distinctly the following lines, the. last one of which was repeated by all present: They shall not grow old As we that are left grow old; Age shall not weary them, Nor the years' condemn.. At the going down of the sun And in the morning, We will remember thdm,. THE 2ND N.Z.E.F. Mr G. B. Melrose then proposed the toast; of the “ 2nd N.Z.E.F." remarking that 25 years ago it was the last thing possible that he would have the, honour to propose. such a toast. They had just come through a war to end war—but man proposes and God disposes, and, he hoped, He-would dispose of Hitler quickly. Our boys had already gone overseas, and others would follow, and he urged upon all the paramount importance -of doing everything possible for them, when they came back. They must learn from past experience and organise properly. The record of the men overseas was an inspiring one. On the Achilles and the Leander and in Libya and Greece they had proved themselves—proved as good as ever. (Applause.) Lieutenant Wynyard, on rising to respond, was greeted with loud applause. He expressed the honour and pride he felt at being their guest, at being associated with the 2nd N.Z. E.F., the -men of which, given the arms and equipment, were as good as the best of the fighting men. In graphic language, and to the intense interest of his listeners, he gave an illuminating account of military life and operations, in Egypt aand Libya, but it is impossible to publish it in full. The speech was frequently punctuated with applause. The Roll Call was then taken, revealing among those present a nursing sister, a number of South African veterans, as well as “ Diggers ” of the last war. both of the Imperial and New Zealand Forces. “THE N.Z.R.SA.” The Rev. M. G. Sullivan then proposed the toast of “ The N.Z.R.5.A.,” and, in doing so, said: “ This is the third occasion on which I have been asked to propose the toast of the N.Z.R-S.A. I regard this as a high honour and privilege—the more so because I am not a member of your Association. In the sporting world the tradition is established that if a man competes for a trophy and wins it three times on end, then he keeps it. You could not pay me a greater compliment than to invite me to keep on proposing this toast year in and year out, as long as I remain in your midst. Events have moved swiftly since last we met, and in a manner which vitally affects your Association. Ever since its inception the R.S.A. has been a closed body.. No man could enter its fellowship unless he had paid the price, measured in the highest terms, namely, service in the firing line in defence of his country, and the willingness, if need be, to die for it. Either a man was a returned soldier or he wasn’t. But now you are extending your frontiers and you are including the young sailor, soldier, and airman of this present war. There is more than a passing gesture in the fact that you have invited as your guest of honour to-night a man who has returned from; this same war. You may be justly proud of your new companions-in-arms. Anzac Day this year reminded us perhaps more vividly than we cared to realise of Anzac Day, 1915. The achievements of the modern “ Digger ” have filled everyone of us with a justifiable national pride. Remember that it was of them that he spoke when the Greek General in the recent campaign said: ‘ They have been weaving new legends round the slopes of Mt, Olympus.’ It is cheering to know that the stock has not deteriorated? and that the son is as good a man as his father. But one more word should be said. When you scaled the heights of Gallipoli you had a formidable task—no one has under-estimated it—but the boys of to-day had an even more gruelling time. The experience of this war has taught us that our forces are waging an heroic struggle, and -are winning it; but against colossal odds It has become a matter of men against machines, of flesh against steel. May that soon be remedied, and may the Empire forces have the .

equipment they deserve. It was freely said at Dunkirk, ‘ Give us the machines and we’ll beat the Huns in three months.’ What has been true of Dunkirk hasbeen true of Greece, and will be true of Egypt. And I want to say this: When you returned from the last war there was no R.S.A. You created it, as probably the best thing that cainie out of that colossal struggle. Y’ou have kept it alive and flourishing. This Association has done a tremendous work for the returned man up and down the country. There has been no cause vital to his welfare in -which it has not been interested. When he was down and out the Association came to his aid; it has fought the battle of pensions, and keeps on fighting it. Now the Association must turn to the .future. The returned men from this war will automatically become fellowmembers with you. See to it that you plan for them and agitate for their welfare; and I would say agitate now. It is good to know that already you are moving in the matter of provision of convalescent . hospitals. When this war is over the R.S-A. will be one of the most powerful organisations in the country. It is the N.Z. R.S.A. I am toasting. Let? 1 us be proud of that prefix—N.Z.: New Zealand. Those of us who have sprung frcim the soil of this country and love it as our native land desire, above all else, to serve it. May that be the desire, too, of your Association, not only in the trying times of war, but also in the piping times of peace. To the N.Z.R.S.A. I ask you to give your test thoughts. May it prosper and grow in usefulness. I bid you drink to the maintenance, of its best fellowship and the continuance of its happiest relationships.” The toast was suitably acknowledged by Major James Oliphant, M.C. “THE VISITORS.” The toast of “The Visitors” was proposed by Captain J. B. W. Roberton, D. 5.0., who referred to the present Territorial training scheme. Mr L. G. Armstrong (Mayor of Te Awamutu) replied, giving a short but interesting account of his service with the New Zealand troops in South Africa. The musical programme was an excellent one, being supplied by an orchestra under Mr L. W. Spence and by the Harmonic Four from Hamilton. Their items were all pleasingly rendered and much appreciated. The singing of “Auld Lang Syne” concluded a most successful evening.