WELCOME HOME

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3295, 2 August 1943, Page 5

WELCOME HOME

PAEROA FIRE BRIGADE FIREMEN FROM OVERSEAS SMOKE CONCERT AT STATION Tuesday evening, July 27, was an outstanding occasion in the history of the Paeroa Volunteer Fire Brigade w ho gathered to welcome from overseas Fireman Alex Armour (Sapper) and. ex-Fireman Herbert Robinson. Other guests of the evening were the following returned men, Messrs Ray Oats, Vincent Moloney and Stan Gosper. The gathering was presided over by Superintendent W. J. Moore and Mr J. Walmsley, chairman of the Fire Council was also present. Superintendent Moore, following the loyal toast, proposed that of the returned men, expressing his great pleasure at the safe return o ese fine members who had done such a . great job overseas.. The Superintendent’s remarks were supported by +he Deputy-Superintendent, Mr E. W. Moore, and quite a number of other speakers and the toast was honoured with enthusiasm. The genuine pleasure of all at having the guests of the . evening home again was very obvious throughout the evening. Fireman Armour’s Response At this juncture the secretary tendered apologies for unavoidable absence from the Mayor, Mr E. Edwards, who was always a welcome guest at fire brigade evenings, and from Fireman (Sapper) Harold Moore who was unable to be present in view of the state of his health. On behalf of both, sincere good wishes were expressed. The speech which Fireman Armour made in response to the toast was re- ” garded by those present as one of the finest and- most remarkable to which they had ever listened. In his own breezy style he traversed the outstanding events of his three and a- - half years’ absence. With apt choice of words and skilful recounting of highlights, Mr Armour carried his hearets from humour to pathos and from lighter moments to stark realities and not once did his selection of narratives deviate from the properties expected of an ideal speech upon such a subject. Tribute To British Firemen Fireman Armour paid a striking tribute to the firemen of England with 1 whom he had had the remarkable op- ■ portunity of associating whilst under blitz conditions. These fireman, he said, had a task incomparably worse than that of the front line soldier. They wjere undoubtedly the greatestof unsung heroes. To them he proposed a special toast which was enthusiastically honoured. Fireman E. E. Faulkner, in proposing the toast of “The Chairman of the Fire Council” asked Foreman Malcolm to supplement his remarks on the work done for the brigade by Mr Walmsley. Mr Malcolm said he did this with pleasure. Even before such men as Firemen Armour had returned to awaken the public to a r recognition of the part played in the nation by the fire services, some such recogntion had dawned in Paeroa’s public life thanks to the very worthy efforts -of Mr Walmsley, undoubtedly the most progressive chairman the Fire Council had ever been fortunate enough to have. Brigade Equipment Mr Walmsley was the first to take serious notice of the brigade’s agitation for adequate equipment and to launch, with determination, an effort to procure the necessary fire protection facilities for the town. In replying, Mr Walmsley attempted to disclaim all the credit that the, » speakers had given him, stating that he had’the support of the whole council in properly equipping the brigade. Mr Walmsley traced his interest in the Paeroa Brigade back to the days -of his youth when his brother had been aft enthusiastic member. The speaker also went back to the days wjien the returned men who were the guests <rf the evening were but boys in the town. He most warmly welcomed them home and paid a tribute ±o' 4 &e great job .they had done for their country while overseas. Superintendent Moore added a warm . tribute to the .work of Mr Walmsley as chairman of the local Fire Council stated that in all his long years - of service he had never had such eupFenner Firemen A further toast, oropoeed by Fore- . Makohn was that of ex-members . ef the Paeroa Brigade. He drew at.tentikm to the. brigade** roll of honour the test war. and spoke of the good ■wart «f the pioneer firemen who had gMm ao much of their experience to . the yvungex enen. The toast was re- . plied to by ex-aecretary E, L. Shaw,

who contributed reminiscences of the old days when firemen pulled the hand reel- to fires. Mr Shaw paid a high tribute to’ Fireman Alex Armour who, in his boyhood days had served under him as an apprentice to a local firm. Mr Shaw emphasised the fine qualities possessed by Mr Armour, which had made him a good fireman a good soldier.

The evening was declared by mafty present to have been one of the most pleasant and one of the moat notable in the history of the brigade.