THE SEVENTH REINFORCEMENTS.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13793, 14 June 1915, Page 7

THE SEVENTH REINFORCEMENTS.

DEPARTURE OF NELSON MEN,

' AN m THUSIASTIO SEND-OFF.

; Owing to the wet weather on Saturday the formal farewell of the Nelson quota of the Seventh Reinforcements look place at the Drill Shed, where speeches were made by the Hon. A. T. Maginnity, M.L.C., Mr. T. A. H. Field, M.P., and the Mayor (Mr. C. J. Harley). There was a good attendance of the public in spite of the early hour and the inclemency of the weather, and as tho men marched through the principal streets, headed by the band or the] 12th Regiment, they were frequently cheered. The Hon. A. T. Maginnity, in addressing the men, said that they were about to embark upon one of the greatest undertakings of their lives. They had met that day to do honour to those who were going to raise their arms in defence of the Empire and their homes It was gi-atifyiiig to him and to those resident in this district, as well as in ihe Dominion, to find that they still had young men capable, and anxious and willing to proceed to the firing line for the defence of an Empire—the greatest the world had ever seen. He commended to them the necessity for strict discipline and obedience to orders —obedience and discipline "must be their watchwords. All could not be officers, but they must remember that they themselves were the men who held the guns, and had to carry out instructions. He hoped they would.yet return in safety, . but 'if they found a soldier's grave and they could but die oricc— they would havo died in a noble cause, but he ventured to take a brighter and more hopeful view, and hoped to see them all back safe and isound at no distant date.

Mr. T. A. IT. Field, M.IK, who followed, said that 'the frequent sends-off must convince everyone that Nelson was do^iig her share in this great crisis of the Empire, and the people were gratified at the eagerness and anxiety shown by the men to go to the front. "The lion cubs of the overseas," as the poet said, "are not failing tho lion of old England in the hour of her need." When New Zealand first sent men to tho Boor war there were some . pessimists who said our troops would not compare, with tho. highly trained troops of Great Britp.ni. Events had falsified this. Some said that the guerilla stylo of " wai'larvsuited them, fmt they could not Ray how they would shape in. the European conflict. The soldiers of England" had acquitted themselves nobly at . Mons and at the battle of Yores, and in many other great conflicts; so also had the Canadian troops and the British Territorials, and now the Australians and New Zealanders were distinguishing themselves at the Dardanelles. It was reported that they had done the impossible, and fought-, as men never fought before. "All' honour," said Mr._ Field, "to the men who are going to join them. I wish you good-bye, good luck and God-speed, and may you have a safV and happy return. 3' The Mayor (Mr. C. J. Harley) added a few words of farewell. He said tho citizens of Nelson were proud of the men who were going to assist the Empire in this calamitous war. The men who were leaving that day were going to join the colonials who had been righting nobly, and he knew they would bear themselves in the same splendid manner as those who had gone before thorn had done. He expressed tho wish that they would reach their destination in safety, and whet; th?y came' C/acii they would receive tho grateful thanks of tho whole community. On the call of the Mayor, three hearty cheers were given for tho soldiers, and the band of the 12lh Regiment played the National Anthem. '■ On reaching Port Nelson, where a large crowd assembled,, tiia Mayor announced that the farewell speeches had been made, but he again briefly addressed the soldiers. At his call three hearty cheers were given, and the Band again played the National Anthem. The soldiers also cheered, the Mayor, Captain Robinson, and Sergt.-Major Gardiner. As tho steamer left the wharf the men were accorded a hearty send off. ' The namea of those who left on Saturday are as.follows: — ; INFANTRY. L. S. Condell. E. E. Mcßae Pittall. A. B. Kidson. I „!'. Coughlan. I J. Montague. J. Graham. ; T. S. McCaffrey. M. P. Rowe. F. E. Wildinim. : M. Bateup. R. Hetherington. N. N. Oldershaw. IT. S. Hollyman. F. j. Warner. W. Beach. 11. A. Strawbridge. G. W. New. A. J. ShQne. / M. Newport. ' J. Templey. H. Hill. F. T. Phillips. C. Boyd. C. H. Stent. 3*. B. Strongman. M. N. H. Amos. T. H. Tyler. ' N. A. Stade. ! L. Fellers. MOUNTED. T. S. Joint. AMBULANCE. A. R. Richards. , A. R. Kingsford. S. N. Perkins. G. V. Edmonds. Bugler C H. Mills. Lieutenant Macmahon went in chargs of the quota. At Picton twenty-five infantry and five mounted men joined -the Nelson-troops.