LEGION OF FRONTIERSMEN

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 9, 19 September 1944, Page 5

LEGION OF FRONTIERSMEN

WHAKATANE SQUADRON FORMED

INITIATION CEREMONY HELD

AIMS OF ORGANISATION

A Legion of Frontiersmen Initiation Ceremony and 1 dinner was held in the Caledonian Hall on Saturday evening well over 50 members and visitors from all parts of the district and beyond being present. The Tauranga Squadron attended to carry out the initiation ceremony and a large number from the Gisborne Squadron were also in support. The visitors arived in the late afternoon on Saturday and after tea marched through the streets with the Wliakatane Pipe Band in the lead to the Caledonian Hall, With silver trimmed uniforms and spurs*, the Frontiersmen made an impressive spectacle as the. jiarade passed through the town and one which the townspeople who were for* tunate enough to witness it will long remember. On their arrival at the Caledonian the O.C. of tl»e 'Tauranga Squadron took charge and the initiation ceremony was duly performed, some twenty members being initiated into the Whakatane Squadron. A Common Liiik The Legion of Frontiersmen was conceived in England in 1906 by Captain Poecock with the idea of banding together in unity as many as possible of the men in every part of the world who had or were pion* eering new trails in the cause of human progress;. Explorers bushbridge road builders, i civil engineers, scouts, goldminers s.oldiers j all were enlisted. Men who had pushed new trails far into unknown parts' of the African j,ung« les to establish trading stations' were linked with men who had fought to

wrest gold from the earth in every part of the world from the irozen trails of Alaska and the Klondike to the parched deserts; of Central Australia. Members of Polar tions were joined with engineers who had constructed bridges in South America and surveyed roads opening up dangerous and little known territory. All men who had led an active life were banded together in the Legion whose aim was to protect the frontiers of civilisation in peace and in war, and whose Svatchword was preparedness. Members of the Legion of Frontiersmen, whose ranks include professional soldiers and men who have offered their lives for their country in times of need have fought in far countries in many wars; in the last war particularly 9000 Frontiersmen fell while the. total number killed in, action in . both the last and present wars liad reached 20^000. From these figures some idea of the witness of the organisation can be gained. The 9000 The dinner, which included everything from sucking pig to • real whisky was one, of the most successful which has been held in Whakatane for some considerable time, enjoyable items were given and the usual toast list honoured. A toast which is peculiar to the Legion of Frontiersmen and which always follows the Loyal Toast .is invariably honoured at all Legion initiation ceremonies- and smoke concerts etc. This is to 'The 9000,' in homage to the 9000 Frontiersmen Who fell in the First World War, j The toast is drunk in darkness with ' empty glasses and a vers,e \o the refrain of "Abide With Me" is sung, j This tbast was duly honoured on Sat i urday evening and was. an impres- j sive. introduction to the list which i followed.

Items- were given by the following: M>r Maurice Clarice 5 Elocutionary; Frontiersman Elocutionary; Mr H. Hauesler, Cartoons; Pipers D. Paterson and W. How.at Bagpipes. Frontiersman Carling then 4ave a very , interesting address on. the Bailey Bridge. Mr Haucslcr's item was very much enjoyed and also very appropriate. He. lirst drew on a black board a pair of spurs (termed as accelerators, for the propulsion ot the frontiersman's horse) and a hat t und then gradually filled in it with appropriate a full drawing of a frontiersman in uniform complete, with horse. All the items were very much appreciated and evidence of this -\vas in no uncertain manner. Following was the toast list:—Grace s which was said by Mr T. H. Ferguson preceded the dinner. The King (O.C. Tauranga Squadron) (Continued in next column)

Lieut Miller. The 9000 (Frontiersman Doherty t a veteran of two world wars). Combined Services (Lieut. Col. H. Rollensen and Capts H. Cutler and Y. Edwards). Whakatane Borough (Capt. Bull of Gisborne and His. Worship the Mayor, Mr B, S. Barry). New Members (Adjutant Briggs and Capt. Brabant and Frontiersman Bunyan). New Zealand Command (Lieut. Wliittalier and C Squadron Officers of Gisborne.). Visitors and Entertainers (Frontiersman Thomas and Frontiersman Gibbin g.s) . On Sunday morning a Church Parade at the Presbyterian Church was held. The squadrons headed by the Junior Pipe Band paraded through the streets to the Church where the Rev. li. Hogg took the service. In the. afternoon a visit to Ohope was arranged and towards the close of the day i? the visitors, left for their respective homes closing a week-end which marks the opening of the Whakatane Squadron, of the Legion of Frontiersmen.