SPIRIT OF OLD SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 192, 10 May 1940, Page 5

SPIRIT OF OLD SOLDIERS

Enlistments At 15 MINISTER OF DEFENCE GIVES INCIDENTS The Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones, gave some incidents of the lighter side of Ministerial life to those who attended the annual reunion of the South African Veterans’ Association in Wellington last night. Mr. Jones began by telling of a letter be received recently in which the writer described him as one of the ablest Ministers New Zealand had. Mr. Jones said he was lluttereil by this. but. while reading it. he looked at the right-hand corner of the letter to see the address of the writer. It was one of the mental institutions. How a man of such perception could be tin inmate of a mental institution lie could not understand, said Mr. Jones.

Referring io the endeavours of exsoldiers to get themselves accepted for service.in the present war, Mr. Jones recalled that in the South African war it was necessary for a recruit to be able to ride a horse. Some keen men did not find it much trouble to get a friend who could ride to take the test in their mime. Men with such initiative did not require so much training, said Mr. Jones, referring to the statement of Mr. J. Cowdrey, in proposing the toast of the Fighting Services,- that tile first contingent of South African veterans left New Zealand only a month and a day after war was declared.

Mr. Jones then referred to some of the attempts made by ex-soldiers to get into the special force for overseas. At one reunion in a provincial town lie had been introduced to a returned soldier who remarked to him "You turned me down.” Lnter in the night the chairman of the gathering introduced the oldest ex-serviceman present, aged 74; it was the sapie man. Before the war was over tie would probably find himself very unpopular if he did not allow some of the elderly or, should he say middle-aged men, to go overseas, continued Mr. Jones. One returned soldier who had lieen refused because of his age had said to him, “You can — lose the war. then.” Again on the steamer express one night, he met an ex-serviceman with some ribbons up, who had been accepted again. Asked how old he was when he enlisted in the last war. this soldier said “fifteen.” It was surprising, said Mr. Jones, to find how many ex-soldiers were now discovering that, they were only 15 when they went to the Great War. Unfortunately for them there were files kept, and there were men at the Defence Dtipartment who sometimes looked up these tiles . . . . Mr. Perry, M.L.C.: Fancy keeping such “narks” in the department. Voices: Hear, hear. Mr. Jones: Well, some of these old soldiers are wangling their way again, anyhow.

He added that, he greatly admired the spirit, of men who, having served before, were anxious to again play their part in the great struggle in which the Empire was now involved. Speaking of the Navy Mr. Jones said that the Achilles men were one up on the Leander after the Graf Sipee engagement and the crew of the latter was anxious to make up this leeway. “If any enemy ship comes within range of the Leander, heaven help it,” he added.