FIRST REUNION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 13, 16 January 1936, Page 3

FIRST REUNION

N.Z.E.F. BRITISH SECTION. The first reunion of the British section of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force was held at the M hite Heather Restaurant, Strand, on December 7, writes The Post’s London representative on December 14. Of the 41 members known to be resident in the United Kingdom 31 attended, and letters of regret were read from practicallv all the others who were unable to attend owing to business and other reasons. It was 21 vears ago on December 12 that the British section of the NewZealand Expeditionary Force left Salisbury Plain for Egypt to join the main body, where the unit was split up between the Engineers and the Army Service Corps. Most of those present had not met since they were demobilised. As a matter of fact two brothers, Messrs. A. and R. Partner, although both living in England, had not seen one another for 16 years until they met at the reunion. Lieutenant-Colonel N. Fitz Herbert, C. C.8.E., was in the chair. It was agreed that an endeavour should be made to make the event an annual one and that Anzae Day would be an appropriate day on which to hob I the future reunions. Mr. IL T. B. Drew, who was present, represented the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association. Those present were Major F. IV. Skelsev, Major C. W. Salmon, Messrs. J. A. Chiles,’ S. Devitt, W. E. Spikins, F. T. Simminds, F. Manning, B. Emms, D. A. Rawburn, P. Sutherland, E. Wrigley, A. Williams, J. Balfour, A. Green, W. J. Abercrombie, J. S. Cripps, A. Partner, R. Partner, M. Cargill, T. Tresize, J. Hodges, H. Cumming, C. Short, K. Lowe, J. K. Kilbride. R. H. IVright, M. Newbould, W. L. Griffiths, and C. Poole.