MEMORIES OF BOER WAR

Taranaki Daily News, 28 November 1934, Page 10

MEMORIES OF BOER WAR

TROOPS DISPATCHED FIRST CONTINGENT’S VOYAGE. CEREMONY on s.s. WAIWERA. Memories of 35 years ago were recalled on Wednesday when a brass plate was unveited aboard the Shaw, Savill and Albiori Company’s new motor-ship -Waiwera, to commemorate that the original ship of that name carried the first New Zealand troops to fight overseas. These men took part in the Boer War in South Africa. The plate, which was unveiled by the Minister of Defence, Hon. J. G. Cobbe, was presented by the South African War Veterans’ Association of New Zealand. Mr. Cobbe was accompanied by the Commodore Commanding the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy, RearAdmiral F. Burges Watson, and the General Officer Commanding the New Zealand Forces, General Sir William Sinclair-Burgess. The president of the Wellington South African War Veterans’ Association, Captain C. F. Bishop, presided. Captain J. J. Clark, past-pre-sident of the New Zealand association, was also present, and there was a strong muster of veterans. The president of the association, Mr. J, I. Goldsmith, said that the veterans were proud of the fact that they were the first troops to leave the colony to fight for Queen and country. They realised the importance of maintaining the safety of the British Empire. Should their services again be required they were at the disposal of their King and Empire in any capacity in which they might be needed. AN INSPIRING DAY. i The Minister said that the fine muster of veterans that afternoon was in keeping with the excellent traditions of the association and the generosity of the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company, which had graciously permitted the tablet to be placed on board the ship that took the place of the original Waiwera—the first ship to carry troops from New Zealand on October 21, 1899, to fight for the Empire. It was an inspiring day for Wellington, in fact for the whole of New Zealand, when the Waiwera sailed out of the harbour for Table Bay with 237 stalwart men and a complement of horses on board, to help with our kin overseas uphold all that was dear to us as members of the British Empire. All regretted the absence of Sir Alfred Robin, who as Major Robin was in charge of the first contingent. Colonel Cradock, who was a brother of RearAdmiral Cradock, killed in action off Coronel in 1916, commanded the second contingent The second contingent also sailed in the original Waiwera, on January 20, 1900, with 267 men and a complement of horses. New Zealand altogether sent ten contingents to the South African War, with a total of 6505 officers and men, of whom 232 made the supreme sacrifice.- If war ever came again it could, he thought, be said that the Anzac Spirit which made such a name for New Zealanders and Australians on the hills and in the gullies of Gallipoli, a spirit born in South Africa, would be in evidence to as great a degree, as it Was in those far-off days of the South African War.

Colohel J. G. Hughes recalled that 61 members of the, first contingent served in various capacities during the Great War. That was equivalent- to one-third of their strength. Thirty of the firsts had Won decorations, including several who Were awarded the Colonial Auxiliary Forces long service decoration for 21 years’ service. The dept the troops of the South African War and later those of the Great War owed to the mercantile marine was Stressed by Major-General Sir William Sinclair-Burgess. As Otte wh6 had travelled in many transports hfe wished to express to the Captain of the Waiwera his appreciation, and that Of the army, bf the wonderful work of the merchant service, and the cate and Consideration they showed for the' troops they conveyed by transports. DEDICATION CEREMONY. The tablet Was then dedicated by Canon Percival JarriOs, Of St. Paul’S Pro-Cathedral. Captain J. F. Rockstrdw said he was one of the original members of the flirt contingent, four of whom were present that day. The gift of the tablet was acknowledged by the commander of the WaiWefa, Captatfi J. H. Gaskell, R.N.R. He said that when war broke out in 1914 he WSs Chief Officer Of the Old Waiwfera, and they were off the Falkland Islands when they first received hfeWS of the Great War. A little to the northeast their wireless operator picked up a radio message to rendezvous off Cape Verde. The Marconi note Was a low note, but this was a high-pitched note, and the operator thought he detected the Telefunken. One ship went to that rendezvous and was trapped by the Germans, but the Waiwera continued On her way for many years to come. The assistant general manager Of the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company in New Zealand, Mr. E. V, Bevan, returned thanks for What he described as a “very noble present.” In Writing Home to the managing director of the company, Mr. John MacMillan, he told him that he had taken the liberty of promising that should in the fullness of time the present Waiwera be replaced by another ship of that name the plate would be placed in position in the neW ship. ■ The South African veterans then sang “Soldiers of the King,” followed by three cheers for the officers and men of the Waiwera, the war veterans and the Royal Navy.