“WHERE ARE THEY TO-DAY?”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 290, 8 December 1939, Page 6

“WHERE ARE THEY TO-DAY?”

MAIN BODY OF N.Z.E.F. OLD WELLINGTON WEST COAST COMPANY “Final leave” has been announced for the members of the first echelon of the New Zealand military force now in camo, and uic announcement has brought back memories to the members of the Main Body of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force encamped at Awapuni, Palmerston North, 1914. That same announcement was made many times in 1914. ’lheie! were many fond farewells which turned out to be ial.se alarms, ana when the force did sail it had gone before ! the great bulk of the people knew anything about it.. Where are those men now wnui were in camp at Awapuni in 1911, and used to come to Wanganui on week-end and general leave, arid go back to carnp each time thinning tiku that would be the last before sailing. It would be hard tu trace them a l, but because uie 'n.h. Wellington West Coast Regiment, largely through the interest of Mr. P. n. G. Bennett, er Te Horo, has kept trace of its members, it is possible to give the names of nearly ail ol tne Main Body company whicn wern into camp on Lie outbreak of war in 1914 and went overseas to lay the foundation of the | great record established by the Wellington Regiment between 1914-19, I.ike “Old Contenmtibles” Those old Main Body troops were to New Zealanders what the • Contemptibles” were' to England. True, tne “Contemptibles” were the regular army and the Main Body ot tne N.Z.E.F. was composed of “amateur sold.ers,” but “Contemptibles” and Main Body had this in common, they paved the way! In July. 1937. members of the 7th. Wellington West Coast Company ol the Wellington Infantry Regiment held a re-union at Marton, and a roll of members, with their then addresses, was tabled. It was of interest then and is of interest still. Roll in 1937 Messrs. S. Abbott. Marton; 11. J. Ahern, Kopataroa; A. C. Aldridge, Taihape; K. G. Anderson, Trentham; J. M. Archei, Wellington; A. C. Arnold, United States Coast Guard Cuitcr “Mojave,” New York. W. G. Brown, Auckland; W. 11. Barnes. Sydney; G. A. A. Barton, Wellington; N. Bell (then touring tne United Kingdom); P. H. G. Bennett, Te Horo; E. E. Bevege, Aramoho; a. C. Bird, Thames; N, c. Blackburn, To Horo; G. W. Blunden, Tau.anga; C. Booth, Wanganui; A. C. Bowman, Victoria; C. Bradley, Westport; C. C. Brinsley, Wellington; D. Bryan, Wellington; J. Rubbers. M*asterton, H. •Burgess, Romford, England; P. J. I Bum. Wellington; W. uyrnes, Bowel Hutt. I j. A. Cameron, Auckland; R. F. j Chapman, Christchurch; J. H, Cod- ! clington, Christchurca; F. Collis, i'aijmerston North; F. C. Caman, biuniyIthorpc; 11. Cooper, Timaru; J. M. [Cooper, Stratford; J. E. Corkhili, iMorrinsville; K (>. Cousins, Lonuon, [A. J. Cross, Hamilton; W. H. Cunningham, Wellington; G. 11. Cunningham, Napier; D. t'.urham. Gonville; i. M. Curran, Tc Aroha; \v. E. Darby, Melbourne; F. H. Davey. Timaru; K. J. Davie; Glen Innes, N.ts.W.; J. Davison. Pleasant Point; J. J. Dunn, Carterton; S. Fisiier, Carterton; J. T. Foster, Weymouth, England; u. France, Levin; John Fraser, Palmerston North; E. Frencn, Tokirima; J. Galbraith, London; A. 'l. Gaskin, Vv'cilington; P. A. Gibbes, Ohakea; D. Gilford-Moore, Wanganui; S. E. Gnshnan, Palmerston North; vV. B. Gone, New Plymouth; Rev. S. J. Golding, Hessle, Yorkshire, England: M. Gaivm, Forestry Department. Wellington; A. Gray, Tirau; R. Greenhill, Wanganui; J. C. Griffiths, Levin. C. F. Haar, Putorjno; W. A. Hampton, Wanganui; W. A. Hanbury, Auckland; A. G. Barns, Marton; A. H. (Hartley, Feilding; W. C. Haultain, [Bay ol Plenty; j. M. Hay, Christchurch; J. Henderson, Hastings; M. Henry, Oamaru; F. J. Hill, Wanganui, A. J Hill, Te Aroha; R. B. Hill. Stiafford; R. W. Hodge, Wanganui; S. C. Holliday, Sydney; W. Howat, Douglas, Taranak;; E H. S. Hares, Rotoma. E. Irwin, Dannevirke. S. R. Johnston. Palmerston North; H. Jones, Carterton. L. U. Kind. Melbourne; W. Kingham, Marton Junction; L. A. Kinseit, Wanganui; Thomas Kirkham, Auckland; A. Kitto, Wellington. A. V. Lankshear, Wellington; C. L. Lovegrove, Wanganui; S. J. N. Lowry, Ohingaiti; A. J. Duxon, Oamaru. J. H. Mainwaring, Marton; V. Malcolm, new Plymouth; G. F. Monk. New Plymouth; E. H. Moore, Wanganui; T. L. Morgan. Wanganui; D. A. Munro, Wanganui; W. H. Murray, Auckland; G. McAneny, Te Knili; H. J. McChesney, Marton; G. M. McCracken, Wanganui; Rod McGregor, Wanganui; Ron McGregor. Wanganui; R. McLeod, Pukekohe; C. C. McNaught, Napier. J. Neale, Whangarei; G. W. Nivan, Manutahi; S. J. Norris, Sydney. W. Olliver, Feilding; E. O. Olsen, Taihape; P. O’Sullivan, Wellington. J. Paaske, Wellington; N. E. Page, Johnsonville; W. B. Page, Wellington; E. Pederson, Feilding; A. Pike, Weraroa. A. H. Rayner, Haropito; 11. G. Reading, Auckland; W. L. Reid, Kolemaori, Hawke’s Bay; C. Ritchie, Wanganui; A. T. Robson, Nelson; J. B. Rowe, Hawera. H. Salisbury. W’igan. England; J. L. Sheehan, Auckland; F. L. Sheppard, Wellington; J. E. Shore. New Ply mouth; D. L. Smith, South Africa; E. E. Smith. Taihape; R. A. Smith, Wanganui; A. G. Sporle, Feilding, W. L. Stevenson, Christchurch; C. S. Swan, Wanganui; E. C. Sweeney, Auckland. H. M. Tansley, Waipukurau; J. M. Thomson. Foxton; J. Touhy, Tinui. Masterton: J. G. Tracey, Upper Hutl; G. Thomas. Christchurch; A. Tronson, ■ Auckland: J. B. Puckey, Ohingaiti, F. ;K. Turnhull, Wanganui. N. F. Paite, Palea; A. Waterfield. Southey. England; H. Way, Papatoetoe; E. J. Whitehead, Palmerston North: O. Whittaker, Palmerston North; D. G. Whitmore, Waipukurau; E. Wilks. Porongohau: H. Wray, Wimbledon, England; H. Williams, Henderson, Engiand; F. C. «Wood, Feilding. E. P. Zander. Marton.