HOME GUARD REUNION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 87, 17 June 1946, Page 5

HOME GUARD REUNION

THIRD TANEATUA GATHERING A SIGNAL SUCCESS The Taneatua Hall was comfortably filled last Friday evening on the occasion of the Annual Reunion, meeting and Smoko, promoted by the Taneatua members of the now defunct Home Guard. Over seventy attended, many a returned Kiwi taking advantage of the cordial invitation extended and gracing the assembly with their presence. Visitors were present from as far afield as Auckland, Gisborne and Thames,

Mr T. E. Hamerton, an erstwhile Lieutenant in the H.G. presided, and welcomed all present in a brief speech. From start to finish the event was a great success, and time passed all too quickly as old friendships were renewed, old exploits re-told and many of the old manoeuvres laughably re-enacted for the benefit of those who had not enjoyed the local background of the good old days. Stories of the celebrated sham battle over Ohope’s hills, when the Ruatoki Maoris beat the Japs at infiltrating and also carried off the palm for field strategy, were related with appreciation and ‘gusto.’ The whole atmosphere was informal, and proceedings were punctuated with intervals of community singing, and much appreciated items by local talent.

Apologies for absence were received from Major C. R. Wilson, Capt. G. Otley, Capt. A. G. Smith, Messrs. E. H. Hill, H. S. Hill and C. Kingsley-Smith.

*Supper was an eye-opener to which full justice was quickly done. It consisted of sucking pig, poultry and hot chips in abundance. The stewards were likewise most solicitious in their attention, and the whole spread was voted A.l. The toast list was as under: Loyal Toast—Mr T. E. Hamerton; ‘The Home Guard—-Messrs. R. S. Ricketts and R. McGougan; ‘Returned Services Association’ —Mr A. K. Prince and Messrs. B. Alexander (Army), T. Gee (Navy), A. G. Cradwick (Air Force), K. Tebbutt (Nursing Sisters) and H. Cochrane-Alexander (Mercantile Marine); ‘Absent Friends’—Messrs. W. C. Davies and H. Cochrane-Alexander; ‘The Ladies’— Messrs. T. Gee and J. Garlick; ‘Stewards and Artists’—Messrs. C. Brown and A. Wardlaw. The election of officers at the annual meeting resulted: — President: Mr J. Shaw. Secretary: Mr F. Peebles. Committee: Messrs. G. O’Brien, E. Hill, J. Black, C. Brown, C. Mitchell, the President and Secretary. Taneatua is determined to not let the old Home Guard spirit die out too easily, and in this we feel is an example which other districts might readily emulate.