REUNION DINNER

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 18, 26 October 1943, Page 5

REUNION DINNER

.«. ,— WHAKA BOYS IN EGYPT ► A RED LETTER OCCASION Bert Norman has written us giving a first hand account of the successful Reunion Dinner promoted by boys from Whakatane noAV serving in the Middle East which occurred on August sth last. The event dreAv a muster of 120 local lads and from the account was an outstanding success from e\ery point of view., We let Bert tell it in his oAvn inimitable way Avhich Avill be appreciated all the more by our readers. "Thursday evening sth Augiu r was a red letter night* for most « ■1 the chaps over here from Whakata'n - serving in the forces as on this oc i, casion Avas held the first reunion o 1 the boys from the Whakatane dis a trict. The show proved a great sue i cess both as far as attendance avcii - and socially to those who were- abl i to attend. t There were some 1.10 local lad • present and I think that, nearly al ■ ranks and all units Avere represent ) cd by at least one. The Maori Bo|t - talion Avas represented in force. I tried to get a complete list o all present but both time and con, ! ditions did, not permit. The. greet 1 ings between some of the chaps avlk ! had not seen one another for tAVO oi three years Avere in some eases sure enthu.sia.stie. As is to be expected

sonic of the more recent arrival.' over here were treated to some stirring tales by some of the- old itillers (Desert rats). As one mingled "with the crowd before the show started one would hear this sort of thing "Say Bill or Tom etc. do you remember such and such" and away they would go at it talking about some experience • of good old peace and civvy days. ' Upon looking round, at the .smiling '■ faces and listening to the happy laughter one could not help but wish that these reunions or get-togethers could be held more, frequently but ■ unfortunately it is seldom possible a-i conditions do not permit. ' Of course there was a terrific demand for autographs in the space pro- , vided for them on the menus and I would take a guess and say that by llic time the evening was finished most chaps were very nearly suffering with a touch of writers cramp. There Avas a dance band in attendance and this helped to make the evening even more enjoyable. The affair was held in quite a nice one of Cairo's many cabarets and the dinner provided was a credit to , their staff. After everybody had arrived and had a good chance to greet, old. cobbers etc. the assembly .sat down to enjoy a very nice four course dinner. They certainly did justice' to it too. This took quite a while but one by one they settled back to enjoy their cigarettes or smokes.. Upon seeing everybody settled, back the chairman, Lt. Col. Jack Conolly started the short toast list, with a toast to the King. After a short spell while the glasses were, being refilled Sgt. Ces Peebles took the floor to propose the toast to "absent friends." Jin his speech he spoke of those of our folks at home, those j who were unable to attend through duly and to those of our comrades who had. paid the supreme sacrifice. To those who have passed on the lads stood in silence for a moment or two and it was a silence as J should say every man present was thinking of at least one of his pals who had gone. To the others the toast was drunk with the usual honours. Ft. Bill Stuart responded, on behalf of absent friends and was well received. The only other toast "Kindred Services" fell to Gnr Bert Norman who spoke of the grand work done by the Navy, the Air l ? oree, the ! Sisters and. the Merchant Navy. He expressed regret that these four services were not represented but knew they were with us in spirit seeing that Whakatane was represented in them all. This, toast A\as honoured in the approved Whaka style. In responding on behalf of the. Kindred Services Gnr. Vcrn Timbs thanked the chaps, for the hearty way in Avhich they drunk the toast and wished to substantiate the proposers remarks. The chairman then read out apologies for non attendance through duty from Sister Ray Black and Sister Goldsmith, Lt. Turnbull and Dvr. Jock Sunkell. This brought the official side to a conclusion so from then on it was free and easy with littkj groups scattered round the I

1 A room talking ilat out about home etc. The success of the whole affair relleet.s great credit on the committee especially Bill Stuart who put a lot of time and labour into the organising of it.