25th Battalion Holds Annual Reunion

Chronicle (Levin), 9 June 1949, Page 4

25th Battalion Holds Annual Reunion

Awapuni Racecourse Was the scene of a reunion of past members of the 25th N.Z. (Inf.) Battalion during the weekend, 650 meinbers from all parts of New Zealand being in attendance at the. functions which were sponsored by the 25th Battalion Association. The assemblage was welcomed by the president ' CMh R. Morrison)'." "The "iihmediate past president (Mr. J. L. Friar) was toastmaster for the occasion. The toast list honoured was as foliows: — Loyal toast, Mr. Friar; "The Battalion," Mr. Morrison, responded to by Major-General A. S. Wilder, D.S.O., M.C., V.D.; "Kindred Units," Mr G. Burton, responded to by Mr. L. P. Robert, representing the Palmerston North R.S.A.; "Absent Friends," Mr. C. Browne. A church service at the Sportsground' on Sunday was conducted by the Rev. F. Ball (Feilding). The Rev. K. Elliott, V.C., was the preacher at a brief ceremony at the Cenotaph in the afternoon. . At the annual meeting held in election of oflicers resulted in Palmerston North on Saturday, the Major-General A. S. Wilder, D.S.O., M.C., V.D. (the battalion's first commander) being again returned as the association's patron; and in Mr. Morrison replacing Mr. Friar (who "declined nomination) as president The matter of arrangihg a venue for next year's reunion was left to the executive committee, the decision to be made after hearing the recommendations of branches. Taranaki members present at the meeting strongly urged that consideration be given to hoiding the next reunion at New Plymouth. The following were present from Levin and district: Messrs. F. Goldstone, R. Blackburn, J. Taplin, E. Bird, J. Marshall, H. Fletcher. R. Robertson, R. Malcolmson, A. J. McKnight, J. W. Lynch, Hardy, J. Crowe, S. Hills, J. Bryant, H. Weaver, J. Greatbatch, G. Thompson, C. Bird, J, Marshall.