THE V.C’S.

Waipawa Mail, Volume LI, Issue 24, 11 November 1929, Page 3

THE V.C’S.

HISTORIC GATHERING. AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE. WELLINGTON, This day. Every one of the seven V.C. ’w in New Zealand accepted His Excellency’s invitation to dine at Government House on Saturday. They were Captain LAY. Andrew, V.C., of Wellington; Lieutenant R. S. Judson. V. D.C.M., M.M., of New Plymouth; Lieutenant S. Frickleton, V.C.. of Wellington; Lieutenant C. R. G. Bassett, V.C., of Paeroa; Lieutenant J. G. Grant, V.C., otl Hawera; Sergeant 11. J. Laurent, V.C., of Hawera; and Sergeant J. Crichton, V.C., of Auckland. Other guests at the dinner included General Sir Andrew Russell, K.C.8., K.C.M.G.; the Officer Commanding the New Zealand Military Forces, General R. Yonng, C. 8.. C.M.G., D. 5.0.; the Minister of Railways, Hon. W. B. Taverner; the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. J. G. Coates; and Mr W. J. Jordan, M.P. REGIMENTAL REUNION. A. rousing reception was accorded His Excellency and the A T .C.’s when they arrived at the reunion of the Wellington Regiment of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, and it was some time before the applause had subsided and the chairman (Mr W. Perry) was able to welcome officially the regiment’s distinguished guests. “To have the VjJ.’s and the Governor-General with us is an hotioi of which this regiment is very proud,” he said. “We all know His Excellency as a soldier and of his distinguished career, and welcome him not only as Governor-General, lint as a fellow soldier —may we say a fellow ‘digger’.” (Applause). Throughout the evening there was a stream of visitors to the table occupied by the V.C.’s, for all were eager for a shake of their hand, and if in Deductions were omitted, those eon corned, in the most amicable fashion supplied their own “knock-downs and enjoyed the informality. Everybody wanted to have a word with thorn, and from the time of their arrival they were kept busy in autographing the programme card.

SPIRIT OF “THE REGIMENT.” The outstanding address of the evening was that given by Colonel W. H. Cunningham, D. 5.0., who was greeted with cries of “Good old Bill” when he rose to reply to the toast of “The Regiment.” “The regiment ceased lo exist over ten years ago,” he said, “and yet we come here like this once a year, and muster an attendance that is nothing short of surprising. The regiment has gone, hut its spirit lives as it did in the days when it fought on Gallipoli and in France. We have been handed on a wonderful tradition, and I hope that aw long as we live we will he able to keep that up. Colonel Malone made the regiment; he did not live long, and his service was comparatively short, Imt his tradition passed on after his death. The spirit that keeps you and me together in these days of peace is that everlasting comradeship ot the trenches. GIFTS FOR THE V.C.’s. During the evening presentations in small parcels—the contents were nol disclosed—were made to each of the V.C.’s by the chairman, on behalf of Mrs 11. C. Smith, who was responsible for the catering and the attrnctive lay-out of the tables. Mrs Smith said tile chairman, sent four sons and her husband to the war. He then asked each to accept the gift from a “Digger’s mother,” who was later given the title of “mother of the regiment” by the gathering. All the V.C.’S briefly replied, thanking Mrs Smith for her gift, and finishing; up their remarks with some appropriate story. MESSAGE TO THE PRINCE. On Saturday night His Excellency the Governor-General sent the following cablegram to the Prince of Wale at London: — “Seven wearers of the Victoria Cross who are dining with me tonight al Government House de sire to present their humble dip' to Your Royal Highness, to expresi i | their loyalty to His Majesty th< I King, and to send greetings to aP » I old comrades in arms.—Fergusson Governor-General.” . To this the Governor-General last night received the following reply:— I “All present to-night’s Victoria , Cross dinner thank Your Excellency and the seven New Zealand V.C.’.for their greetings, which art heartily reciprocated.—Edward P,’