NOT WANTED

Evening Star, Issue 23380, 25 September 1939, Page 2

NOT WANTED

DUNEDIN SCOTTISH REGIMENT COMPANY MAY BE BROKEN UP “ There is little chance of our equips ping ourselves as a Highland regiment as Army conditions are at the moment. Our Scottish Company will be disintegrated it this war continues, but if the company has to be broken up, as it must, w T e have to look forward to the time when the war is over and when the company will be re-established,” said Captain R. D. B. Paterson at the annual reunion of the Dunedin Highland Rifles on Saturday night. A secret ballot taken of members of the unit had revealed, said Captain Paterson, that 100 of the 120 members of the Dunedin company had expressed their willingness to serve overseas if necessary, but he had asked them hob to offer their services until he had seen, whether the Government would accept their services as a unit. This possibility had fallen through, however, Captain Paterson said, and he had subsequently informed his men that they should offer their services individually if they felt so inclined, as there was no chance of their going overseas as a unit. “ The bulk of the men,” stated Captain Paterson, “ decided to stick together and to wait until reinforcements were asked for.” He announced that his services in the special force/for service at home or overseas had been accepted, and he said his disappointment at having to relinquish command of, the Dunedin Company of the Scottish Regi--1 ment was intense.

“ I am afraid that for the duration of the war we shall see no Scottish Company in Dunedin,” he added, “ but that is no excuse for not having one afterwards, I regret that I shall be unable at the moment to carry on the traditions enumerated here to-night, but after this war is over I hope to be able to do so.”