FIRST INTO CAMP

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20053, 27 September 1939, Page 4

FIRST INTO CAMP

OFFICERS AND NON-COMS INITIAL GISBORNE GROUP HEARTY SEND-OFF GIVEN SPECIAL MILITARY FORCE The first .group of commissioned and non-commissioned officers from the Gisborne district selected to assist in forming the personnel of the Special New Zealand Military Force left yesterday afternoon on the initial stage of their journey to Trentham. The departure was made from the district headquarters of the Army Department, at the Abercorn Hall, and was witnessed by a large crowd of relatives and friends of the selected officers.

The party comprised Major A. Blackburn, Lieutenant D. K. McLaughlan, Company Sergeant-Major A. J. Clarkson, Company Quarter-master-Sergeant C. W. Taylor, Sergeant C. A. L. Ferguson, and Corporals W. D. Lindsay and R. Sinclair. Another Gisborne volunteer, Company Sergeant-Major H. R. Heiford, had proceeded south independently, intending to visit his home in Hawke’s Bay prior to entering on his military duties. Mothers, wives, and in. some cases sweethearts absorbed the greater part of the attention of those who were going into camp, but friends also were able to express their warm goodwill towards the departing officers.

Farewelled By R.S.A. President

The W.E.C.M.R. Band, under Lieutenant A. Wood, paraded in honour of the officers and men of territorial units who were thus early called upon to undertake active imilitary service, and a delegation of the Gisborne Returned Soldiers’ Association also joined in the farewell. The president of the association, Colonel R. F. Gambrill, who formerly was in command of the Wellington Regiment, took occasion to address the departing officers briefly, expressing his association’s admiration of their keenness in volunteering for the new “main body.’’ Fie also gave an assurance that so far as it could do so, the association would protect the civil interests of all who were called upon for service. Colonel 'Gambrill expressed confidence that if the special New Zealand force was called upon to go overseas, it would uphold and enhance the traditions of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Great War.

There was a striking contrast between the departure of the draft and '.lie scenes witnessed during 1914-18 in Gisborne, when successive drafts of troops from Gisborne were sent to Napier by steamer. There was, however, a good deal of the same fervent enthusiasm shown yesterday, and the service car conveying the initial Gisborne draft moved away amidst cheers and a final exchange of personal messages.