Return of Our Boys.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXIII, Issue 4230, 20 July 1901, Page 4

Return of Our Boys.

The Public Reception. Review of their Deeds. The public reception accorded to the boys of the “ Dandy Fourth ” and the “Fighting Fhth” on their return to Waipawa may be aptly described as a “ fizzle ” and was in striking contrast to the warn welcome given to the returned members of the Third Contingent. Whoever is responsible for the half hearted manner in which the troopers were received we do not know, but it is to be regretted that the arrangements were not in more capable hands, for the public loudly condemn the sad muddle made, it had been arranged that the troopers were to be escorted from the railway station to the town by the band and the volunteers, and that suitable addresses were to be delivered from the balcony of Mr Moore’s shop. This idea was, however, abandoned, because those in charge of affairs thought it “ too wet,” so it is said, although no rain had fallen for several hours previously, and a sort of “ go as you please ” resulted. Although the hour of arrival was an inconvenient one, there was a large number of persons at the railway station as the express steamed alongside the platform, and loud cheers went up when the khaki clad troopers were seen. The band struck up and the local men were quickly surrounded by their relatives and friends. After greetings and congratulations had been exchanged, they were briefly welcomed by Mr James Williams, chairman of the Waipawa Town Board, who informed them that the young ladies of the town were holding a social in their honour on Friday night, when they would be suitably welcomed. The volunteers were then dismissed and were swallowed up in the crowd, and the band waited patiently for orders, but as none were forthcoming they came to the conclusion that it was time to make a line for home, and they played as far as the railway crossing and then dispersed. Those who returned were Troopers L. S. Bone, A. Gilmour, E. S. Pettit (Fourth Contingent, Rough Riders), and G. Burgess, of Porangahau (Fifth Contingent).

On the return of the Fourth and Fifth Contingents to New Zealand it may not be inappropriate to briefly review their action in the tented field. It was at Port Chalmers that the first companies of the Fourth Contingent embarked for South Africa, on the 24th March last year, under the command of Major Francis, of Christchurch. The hope of the early termination of the war then ran so high that the men of the Fourth were dubious whether they would hear a shot fired in anger. As events proved, no other of our seven contingents had more sensational experiences that the Fourth. As a result of the campaign its commanding officer, who was promoted to a lieutenantcolonelcy, died after being invalided home; the captain of No. 10 Company (Mr J. A. Harvey of Balclutha), was killed in action ; tho captain of No. 9 Company (Mr H. T. Fulton) was seriously wounded; and Lieut. Collins (of Wellington) was permanently maimed. The last named two officers had to return to the colony. In the engagement at Ottoshoop on 16th August last no less than nine of the officers and men of the Fourth were severely wounded, while a tenth was slightly injured. This is a single-action record that no other contingent can show. In the following month another force was wounded in the operations around Naaupoort, and still more were laid low at Wonderfontein in November.

The Fourth and Fifth Contingents, which were together for the greater part of their share of the campaign, in the column of Lieut-General Carrington, suffered many disappointments before they got down to real work. The complaints of both contingents from fever-stricken Biera are still well remembered. In those early days of trouble many men were invalided and a good many horses spoiled. Not a few of the troopers had to return home before they had fired a shot, the devastating enteric fever having smitten them. One trooper of the Fourth died from this deadly ailment at Umtali (Rhodesia) two months after the contingent had left our shores, and another died at Beira in (June (a month later). Captain Tanner (of the Fifth), an old South African campaigner, also contracted fever, and had to return home without taking part in actual warfare. Enteric remained a scourge until the fever-belt was traversed, and in the days immediately following there was much vexation of spirit because of delays in making a forward march. In August the Contingents had orders to move to the Mafeking region, and then engagements followed fast upon each other. Elands River, Crocodile Pools, Zeerust, and Ottoshoop were the scenes of lively work, and in all their operations tho troops, as in the case of those that had preceded them, did credit to themselves and their colony. They served

under Major-General Douglas, and also under Lord Methuen, being with the latter’s force in the Rusfcenburg district. Whilst operating near Zeerust the men of the Fourth and Fifth Contingents won the attention of Lord Methuen, especially for their part in the capture of a rich convoy. In a special order this General commended them for their dash and their work generally. Major-General Douglas also wrote about this time that he desired “to congratulate the brigade on their excellent scouting, and the manner in which their duties were oarried.” While with General Douglas the Fourth and Fifth took part in ths successful march on Ventersdorp, which won for the Major-General the congratulations of Lord Roberts. Last Christmas was spent by our men at Kierksdorp, the terminal station of the railway soufchvvest of Johannesburg, and within some 30 miles of Ventersdorp. The present year opened with operations still being carried on in the Western Transvaal, and the chase after De La Ray gave oocasion for plenty of rough work. Then followed thecamprign in the Magaliesberg district with much skirmishing and heavy marching.

In March our troops had an exciting time, the incident of tho month being the capture of guns and a big convoy in the Western district. Two of the guns oaptured by men of the Fourth, came by the Tagus, having been given to the New Zealanders as trophies of the campaign. One is a brass-barrelled pom pom captured from De La Ray and the other is a Krupp field piece, also taken from De La Ray’s commando. To the Fourth Contingent Captain Davy and Lieut. Seddon, both of Wellington, were attached for instruction. Captain Pringle (of Palmerston North) was given command of No. 7 Company, Captain Walker (of the Waikato) No. 8 Company, and the other two captams have already been named. Lieut.-Col Newall was in command of the Fifth Contingent for part of the campaign, but has been back in Wellington for some time. Lieut.-Colonel Sommerville took from the colony the two companies that were eventually given over to the command of Lieut.-Col. Davies, originally a captain of the First Contingent, and who was in command of the force which arrived by the Tagus. The officers commanding companies in the Fifth were Captains Major, Abbott, Poison (who succeeded Captain Tanner), Currie, and H. D, Jackson. One of these companies (Captain Major’s) it will be remembered, was transformed early in its career into a battery of artillery, its commander becoming a major, and Lieut. Bosworth being promoted to the captaincy. From conversations with the troopers we gather that the voyage across in the Tagus was one of bitter coldness, and also of much tossing about, owing to the lightness of the troopship. The cold weather they said, largely accounted for the sickness which prevailed throughout the voyage. Men who were “just touched” with enteric fever when the Tagus left the Cape rapidly developed the disease on the voyage, and others who thought they had recovered from malaria and enteric contracted just after landing at Beira, in the first stage of the campaign, were attacked with increased violence. All acknowledge the untiring and unselfish efforts of the two nurses who were sent on board by the Imperial authorities at Capetown. At times during the voyage the nurses had as many as 50 patients on their hands. On reaching Dunedin, the troopers presented a purse of sovereigns to each of the ministering angels. Just before reaching Dunedin, Colonel Davies made his farewell address to the troops. He said that within a few hours they would all be separating and going each to his home in different parts of the colony. He would like them all to know he lived in Taranaki, and that if any of them ever found themselves in his district, they must never pass his door without renewing his acquaintance. For if he was ever called upon to fight again he could never wish to command a more gallant lot of men. Of course, the men responded to the speech with rounds of the heartiest of cheers. The men of the Fourth and Fifth speak in very high terms of praise of Lord Methuen, under whom they declare, they are proud to have seen service. Methuen, they added, was also a great favourite with all the troops that saw service under his command.

The Social. If the public reception given to the returning troopers was of a half-hearted nature, the warmth of the welcome accorded them by the young ladies of the town fully atoned for the apathy displayed by the townspeople, or rather by those to whom the arrangements had been entrusted. A committee consisting of Misses E. Mogridge, D. Nash, A. Pellow, K. Moroney, M. Shanly and M. Bradbury had determined that the services of those of “ our boys ” who had voluntarily espoused the cause of the mother country and who had gone afar to share in her battles should not pass unrecognised, and well they carried out their self-imposed task. A cordial and hearty welcome was extended to those who shared in the “ moving incident by flood and field ” while in South Africa, and the greeting marked the feelings of admiration entertained by their fellow townspeople for their brave and selfsacrificing deeds. Their action in volunteering for service will serve to inculcate a spirit of patriotism in the young of future generations. The departure of contingents to South Africa to fight shoulder to shoulder with their British brothers in the cause of the Empire marked an epoch in our history the full importance of which we are not yet able to realise. It convinced the people of Great Britain of the unity of feeling possessed by their offspring in far off lands, renewing and strengthening the latent ties of kinship. To the world at large it revealed the great fact that the British Empire had at its command reserves of forces hitherto undreamt of. Even more striking, however, was the revelation afforded to New Zealanders them- ■ selves to their valour and resource, side by side with crack British regiments, fighting against such powerful foes as the Boers have proved to be. Our loyalty is no longer a mere lip word, and we have proved to the world that we possess a formidable defence should any foe invade our shores. These are some of the considerations that find embodiment in giving a welcome to those who have returned safe and sound to take up their duties once again, and these considerations were adequately expressed last night, by the organisers of the social.

Although the weather was unpropitious, deterring many from a distance from putting in an appearance, the hall was crowded by a bright and animated throng, who had met to do honour to

the returning brave, who must have felt flattered by the attention paid to them. The hall had been suitably and prettily deoorated for the oooasion. Standards of flags had been plaoed on every ooign of vantage and their bright oolours were thrown in strong relief by the more sombre decorations. Banners with the device “ Welcome Home ” were hung upon the walls. These were the work of Messrs Nash and F. Shanly. The committee, who wore badges with the word “ Welcome ” artistioally painted by Mr Lord, were most assiduous in their attentions to their guests and received able assistance from Messrs J. O’lteilly, J. Cosgrove, and W. Moroney, who acted as Masters of Ceremonies. Excellent music was supplied by Miss Mary Moroney, on a piano lent for the occasion by Mr George Oakenfull. The oatering was in the hands of Messrs Hastings and McIntyre.

An address of welcome was delivered by Mr James Williams, chairman of the Waipawa Town Board, who said that on behalf of the Waipawa people he desired to extend a hearty welcome to the returning troopers. During the time they had been at the front they had won golden opinions by the manner in which they had conducted themselves. It was really difficult for them to realise that the easy-going, good natured fellows, whom they all knew so well, were the same men who had earned such a high reputation for bravery in South Africa; that they were soldiers who had been fighting in grim earnest, carrying their lives in their hands in the van of the army, where the fray was thickest. Waipawa people had followed their fortunes with great interest and their relatives here had opened their newspapers with some apprehension, fearing to read of some fatality to them. Fortunately, no fatalities had happened to any of the local members of this contingent, though he regretted that a former contingent had not been so fortunate. He thought it fitting that the entertainment, which had been organised to welcome them home, should have been so successfully carried out by the young ladies of the town. It has been truly said that “ none but the brave deserve the fair ” and it was equally true that the ladies admired nothing in a man more than pluck. The ladies of the town recognised the fact that they had gone forth to fight the battles of the Empire, and not on a pleasure jaunt, and therefore accorded them what he hoped would be a cordial welcome home. Captain Rathbone also made a speech during tho evening, in the course of which he said that the Rev. Mr Swinburn, the chaplain of the corps, who was laid up from the result of an accident, had asked him to apologise for his absence. The movements of the Fourth and Fifth Contingents had been watched with great interest. They had upheld the honour of New Zealand, and they were proud to know that the members of these contingents had done their duty manfully and well, and had earned the respect of the British generals for their prowess on the field and their conduct when off it. The speaker related how the Fourth Contingent had earned the title of “ The Dandy Fourth,” and said they had always acted up to it. He desired to express his thanks to the young ladies who had organised and carried out so successfully the socials to welcome home the members of the different contingents. Trooper Gilmour briefly returned thanks on behalf of himself and the other troopers, for the cordial reception accorded them. They felt fully repaid for any hardships they had undergone by the warmth of the greeting extended to them.

At intervals between the dances the following songs were contributed : “ The Home Trail ” Miss Clough; “ Soldier’s in the Park ” Miss E. Boyle ; duet, “ Friendship ” Misses M. and K. Coe ; “ Southern Cross ”Mr Deighton. Mr J. Miller danced the “Sailor’s Hornpipe.” Miss M. Moroney played the accompaniments. Extras were played by Misses M. and K. Coe, Drayger, E. Pettit, and Messrs W. Pettit and H. Liddle.