RETURNED SOLDIERS’ RE-UNION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3629, 23 April 1927, Page 3

RETURNED SOLDIERS’ RE-UNION.

A SUCCESSFUL FUNCTION. Upwards of 100 Returned Soldiers and South African veterans foregathered in the Masonic Hall on Thursday evening pn the occasion of the annual re-union and smoke concert. , The hall was tastefully decorated with bunting and the arrangements were carried out without a hitch, reflecting great credit on the committee and energetic secretary and chairman (Messrs A. E. Scott and F. G. Yeo). During the evening various toasts were honoured, interspersed with musical and vocal items. When responding to toasts on behalf of the various units the -men connected with that particular detachment stood at attention while their spokesman returned thanks and voiced the appreciation of the men at being present. In this connection it was noticeable that the gathering \vas a very representative one, almost all the Regiments in the Dominion being represented. 1 The first toast honoured, after the singing of the National Anthem, was that of “Old Brigades and Kindred units,” and was placed in the hands of Mr. F. : C. Raikes, a South African veteran, who, irf reminiscent mood, referred to incidents in the Boer War.

Replies were as follows: —South African veterans: Mr. R. Owen ; Auckland Regiment: Mr. T. Boss; Wlellington: Mr. McFail; Canterbury: Mr. D. Gilbert; Otago: Mr. E. Westwood; Rifle . Brigades: Mr. Stratford; Artillery: Mr. 11. Hughes; Engineers: Mr. J. E. Clark; medical corps: Dr. E. M. Wyllic; A.S.C.: Mr. E. Bryant; Air Force: Mr. S. Austin; Pioneers: Mr. M. Kcrehana; Aussies: Mr. D. Brooks; Imperial Forefes: Mr. R. Byne; Navy, and Mercantile Marine: Mr. R, Chaffey. The replies were mostly made in humorous strain, each detachment claiming the honour of having won the war. Dr. Wyllie, in more serious strain, however, touched on the serious side of warfare and spoke of the devotion of the men to their comrades. The toast -of “The oldest town in the Manawatu,” was proposed by Mr. D.'Gilbert, who eulogised Foxton and its citizens, ‘ styling Foxton as one of the finest little towns in the Manawatu. He also touched on its facilities, the port, river cuts, main highways and dairying country and optimistically prophesied

that Foxton would, if it continued to progress as it had during the past few years, soon become the leading city in the province. The Mayor (Mr. M. E. Perreau) replied and said that in no small measure feredit was due to the Returned men for helping to pdsh Foxton ahead and in obtaining better conditions locally. Mr. Yeo proposed the toast of “Our Secretary” and in doing so made eulogistic reference to Mr. A. E. Scott, who had devoted so much of his time to the affairs of the Returned men. It was due to his efforts entirely, he said, that a ’Xmas party had been given the children of Returned ' men last Christmas. Mr. Scott,had spent an enormous amount of time in preparing a roll of Returned men and organising the first r’e-union last year. His duties this year had been none the less arduous and the committee thought that it was fitting that some recognition should be made of his services and he had much pleasure in calling on Mr Scott to accept a slight token of their appreciation of his services, (applause). Mr. Scott was accorded a great ovation on rising to respond and had difficulty in making himself heard above the hand clapping and I cries of “good old Scottie.” In ' characteristic manner, he threw all the credit of organisation on to the committee and chairman (Mr. Yeo). Had Mr. Yeo not come to Foxton, he said, very doubtful if a re-union would have eventuated. Personally his only object in holding the re-union just prior to Anzac Day was in order to ask every Digger present to parade on that day. Last year, with only one day’s notice, there had been a parade of 25 men and this year he would like to see that number increased to 125. It was the least they could do to parade on Anzac Day. The children’s party had been due to the chairman —it had been a kindly thought. The women, of course, had done great work in that connection and made a wonderful success of the venture, and he took the opportunity of publicly thanking them for the good work they had done, and also the public and Returned Soldiers for their patronage and donations. The toast of “The Ladies,” fell to Mr. H. Hornblow, who referred to the sterling work done on the battlefields and at home by the womenfolk during the war, without whose cheery assistance • the men could never have carried on. The part the women played in the war was apt to be lightly overlooked but the suspense that they had to go through at home could never be forgotten. Mr. Stratford responded on behalf of the ladies, and endorsed the previous speaker’s remarks, saying that the women had done as great deeds as any man in any campaign, since men took to the field. Personally, he always associated the womenfolk with “Absent Comrades,” when that toast was being honoured. However, he felt sure ,the ladies would be very pleased it they could peep in that night and see'the Diggers enjoying themselves as their main object during war-

time had been to give them a good time when away from the trenches. Mr. Yeo proposed the toast of the Press, which was responded to by Messrs R. Hornblow and R. MeMurray. * Other toasts honoured were “The Artists," proposed by Mr. Yeo and replied to by Mr. G. F. Smith; “The Committee,” proposed by Mr. D. Gilbert. “Absent Comrades,” was feelingly proposed by Mr. Yeo who made a strong appeal to all Returned men to parade on Anzac Day and also to attend the service at the school at 10 a-.m. and if possible for some of them to attend the service at. Oroua Downs in the evening. ' The “Last Post” was then sounded by Sergt. Bugler B. Walls, the gathering standing in silence. During the evening vocal and musical items were rendered by Messrs W. Williams, B. Hinds, I. Cora, J. Newton, G. F. Smith, J. Durham, D. R. Barron, Stratford, O’Donnogliue, A. East and J. Newton, senr. Apoligies for absence were received from the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates), J. Linklater M.P., and Colonel Powlcs (Palmerston North).