ALEXANDRA CAVALRY

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160796, 2 November 1920, Page 6

ALEXANDRA CAVALRY

OLD MEMBERS’ ASSOCIATION. Following is the annual report, which was presented at the annual meeting of the Alexandra Cavalry OhT Members’ Association: — 'ln presenting its ninth annual report, your committee is pleased to say the membership is fairly well maintained. There are still some outstanding subscriptions, which, if paid up, will • put the finances of the Association in a satisfactory condition We feel sure it is not from any lack of interest in the Association that these subscriptions are not paid, but rather from the fact that our comrades have not come in touch with the secretary. We earnestly ask members to be good enough to forward their subscriptions to the secretary a s soon as possible, so as to -enable us to start the new year with a clean sheet. We would ask old members to rally round the flag and keep its colours flying triumphantly. In this connection we would ask every old member to do all in his power to induce others to join us. There are numbers of returned men of the Wellington Mounted Rifles who are eligible to join. and no doubt would do so if it was brought to their minds. Will old members bear this in mind, and ask any returned Wellington Mounted Rifleman to join with us. -- The annual shooting match between the Queen Alexandra Own Mounted Rifles and our Association took place on the Putiki range on the 19th of March last, and resulted in a win for ’the old men by 51 points. A very pleasant time was spent thereat. Refreshments were provided by Mrs Guthrie, and were greatly appreciated. At the end Mrs Guthrie was thanked for her effort. On the same date the final for the Sommerville Memorial Cup was fired, resulting in Captain Morrison -being the winner with a score of 183 points, best three scores out of five; Captain Morgan was second with 181 points, and Fr.Sergt. Morgan third with 171 points', while the remaining competitors were well up. The competitions throughout were well supported and very interesting to the end, and it was hard to foretell who would be the final winner. The annual reunion was held on the evening of the same day in the Druids’ Hall, something like 30 old members being present, besides the team of the Q.A.O. Mounted Rifles and representatives of the other associations and the military departments. Lieut. Jas. Higgle (president) presided. In his opening remarks he gave all a hearty welcome, and congratulated the Association on its satisfactory condition, and asked members to rally to the flag and assist the committee to keep the old Association alive. In presenting the Sommerville Memorial Cup to Captain Morrison, he congratulated him upon being the fortunate winner of such a handsome trophy. The final result showed he Lad to shoot straight and true all the time, as the runners-up were so close upon his heels. Capt. Morrison thanked the president for his kindly remarks when making the presentation. He would say at once he was very proud to be the winner, and to know he had won it on his merits. It was no runaway win, as the scores would show. He assured them it would ever keep in mind one of his best friends, and for the matter of that a gentleman who was held by them all in the highest respect, and, though called West, he will ever he remembered as a true friend. The function passed off very successfully. We had ‘ the pleasure of having the Returned Soldiers’ Orchestra with us. The Association owe them a deep debt of gratitude for so willingly and ungrudgingly coming forward and assisting us in making the reunion such a successful affair. We tender them our grateful thanks and hope on a future occasion to have the pleasure of hearing Ihem again. It is our sorrowful duty to have to Jeport that death has claimed three of our oldest members—Sergt.; N. B. Garner, Lieut. T. D. Cummins, and Tpr. F. Symes. Our late comrades were old cavalry members, and each during their lifetime took a lively interest in the troop as well as in our Association. ’ We are sure the sympathy' of all will be to the bereaved families. .The secretary, on behalf of the Association, sent letters of sympathy to the relatives of the deceased members, and letters of thanks and appreciation of the members’ sympathy were duly received.

The committee meetings held during, the year have been fairly well attend* ed, an intelligent interest in the affairs of the Association being evinced. During the year your committee ask* ed members to subscribe towards a fund for purchasing a trophy for competition amongst members during the coming year. The result ho doubt will enable the committee to procure a trophy suitable for the purpose. Details will be arranged and members will be notified when the competitions will commence. It was felt by your committee that if a series of competitions were instituted it would cause greater interest to be taken in the Association. The secretary wishes to thank all for the help and assistance he has received during the past year, and would ask members to stick to the old Association and do all possible to keep it a real live institution. He cannot close this report without sincerely thanking Copeland, who so willing offered to be Copeland, who so willing offered to be his assistant. In comrade Copeland he found one who, was always willing to give all the assistance possible, and without his help the secretary could not have done anything like what was required of him. ,He therefore sincerely thanks him for his help.