RAILWAY SOLDIERS’ FAREWELL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 190, 14 August 1940, Page 3

RAILWAY SOLDIERS’ FAREWELL

FUNCTION AT TAIHAI’E (Own Correspondent.’ Taihape members o£ the 16th and 17th Railway Operating Companies, who are at present home on leave, were accorded a rousing farewell at a social and dance held in their honour in the Railway Hall on F riday evening. The hall was tastefully decorated for the occasion and presented a bright and pleasing appearance. Music was provided by Mr. J. Valvoi, extras being played by Miss V. Montgomery, while Messrs. F. J. Christensen and J. Pettersen acted as M.C.’s and kept things moving with a swing, with the result that there were no dull moments. Community singing was also indulged in. During an interval speeches were made by Messrs. G. A. McLean (A.S.R.S.), F. Ball (R. 0.1. and R. Smeaton (E.F. and C.A.), and each railwayman in khaki was presented with a shaving outfit, the presentations being made by Mr. J. D. C. Davis, stationmaster, on behalf of the traffic department, and by Mr. F. J. Christensen, on behalf of the locomotive department. Apologies for unavoidable absence were received from Mr. H. Daniel, loco “chief” at Taihaipe (who is at present in Christchurch), Sergt. Cheadle (who is in Devonport) and Sapper Thorburn (at in Palmerston North). on behalf of the A.S.R.S., Mr. McLean said it was his duty and privilege to farewell members of the railway operating companies on behalf of the society he represented. In doing so he said that everybody realised that men are entering the armed forces to take up arms in defence of freedom against the Nazi aggressors of Germany, aided by the Fascists of Italy. The response to the country's call from Taihape railwaymen was magnificent, said the speaker, and compared very favourably with other places throughout the Dominion. “As unionists we know that, should England lose, workers’ organisations would be crushed out of existence; in fact, all free rights of our democratic country would quickly come to an end. Therefore, we must be grateful to the man in uniform who is prepared to go overseas to defend his country and all it means to us,” added the speaker, who added that Abraham Lincoln uttered famous words when he made his speech on the battlefield of Gettysberg when he said: “That this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” Mr. McLean appealed to his audience to back up the men in the Army to the utmost of their ability. He wished all the railway soldiers God speed and a safe return and concluded by quoting Charles Mackay’s poem. ‘There's A Good Time Coming.” Messrs. F. Ball and R. Smeaton spoke in similar strain and hoped that the time would not be far distant when the Taihape railway soldiers would be receiving a welcome home. Presentations were made to the following members of the railway unit: Sappers R. Webster, E. L. Packer, A. E. Longley, S. R. Boldt, D. Brosnahan. F. W. Bird, G. Gregory. J. R. McDonald, H. Leighton, L. G. Farr, R. S. Warnock. J. W. Clode, W. J. Cooper. R. T. Dellow, L. H. Harford. S. Cronshaw, I. Smith, K. Treanor. The following members of the Railway Company were unable to be present and a gift will be sent to each of them: Sergt. J. Cheadle. Corpl. G. Wright, Sappers P. L. Wells. W. G. Squire, F. W. Williams, J. Ruru, G. Forbes. F. N. Hill. K. J. Thorburn, R. (X Russell. F. R. Durrv, R. Carkeek. At the conclusion of the presentations, the railway soldier boys formed a circle in the centre of the hall and sang a popular refrain. Supper was served under the supervision of the following ladies: Mesdames Griffin. Cunningham. D. George. Hopkinson. The function was in every way a great success and provided an ideal setting for the railwav (boys’ send-off.