THE TWENTY-FIRSTS

Nelson Evening Mail, 19 September 1916, Page 6

THE TWENTY-FIRSTS

DEPARTURE FOR CAMP. T*ARGFJ GATHERING AT THE PORT. The Nelson quota for the Twenty-First Reinforcements left for camp this morning. The men fell in at the Drill Ha'il, and maTOhed; to the Port, accompanied 4>y the National Reserve Band, Territorials, H ißatterv and Cadets. There was a large turn-out of the public, and the men were cheered en route. At the Port there was a .great gathering to give tile soldiers a hearty send-off, maincountry people 'being amongst those present. Father Bartley, addressing the gathering from the bridge of the Takapuna, said he was proud to say, on behalf of the citizens of Nelson, a few words to the men and to wish them God-speed, good health, and a safe return to dear, sunny, old Nelson. He would say from the bottom: of his heart that the best was not nearly good enough for the men. : They 'had seen a good; deal lately about Taising money- for the men at the front, but if on one "side of the scales was put ; all the gold mined and unmined in New j Zealairtd, the value of all the properties. and the tank securities, and on .the other one little grave in Gallipoli or Flanders, the balance would be in favour of the grave. We were sending of our very best, and how good that "best was we had had no idea, and what we had learnt about our own men had staggered us. Our men were going to meet an enemy who had only one set of rules—the all — in rules; an enemy who had taken heavy toll in Belgium and Alsace; an enemy who nrast be given some of his own medicine. Our men must be strong and ready. All? our gratitude was theirs. (Applause). Mr H. Everett, Chairman of the Waimea Gounty Council, added a few words. Men going away now, he said, were aware of the risks they ran, but the roll ■was made good every time the trumpet called. The men were going to the war full of hope. They did not know where they were going, but wherever they went. and in whatever circumstances they found' themselves, those at home had every confidence that they would acquit themselves crecKta'bly. IBritishers valued the volunteer as a'gainst the pressed man, and Mr Everett hoped the war would be fought through -with volunteers. He wished the men God-speed, knew that they would acquit themselves valiantly, and hoped to welcome them back hale and hearty, having earned the gratitude of the people. (Applause). Cheers were given for the men of the Twenty-Firsts, and the proceedings concluded with the National Anthem. There were a number of returned men at the .Port. Some were from the Hospital, and these were in a motor kindly lent- 'by Messrs Newman Bros. Nelson's quota for the 21sts was 45, and 38 men left this morning, 7 short of the required number. Ten of those called up are ill, and 4 neglected to put in an appearance, and have given no satisfactory reason for their failure to respond. The latter will be placed on the list for the next reinforcements, and under the regulations of the Military Service Act will be forced to attend. It will be seen that the authorities had a surplus of seven men available, and mainly through illness the surplus developed into a shortage. The names of the men who left by this morning's steamer are as follows :

INFANTRY NIC.O.'S. < W. J. Gallen. J. M. Reith, INFANTRY. ' R. W. Boddington. "F. C. Barrow. C. M. Bartlett. T. D. Chapman. A. N. Coleman. M. G. CresswelL W. Canning. C. T. Cowie. F. M. Dodds. 1. W. Evles. P. J. Eatwell... ! A. E. Graham. S. Hannen. J, H. Horton. G. D. Lidgett. I*. Manson" J. P. Murphy. I/. C. Newlove. W. J. O'Connor. P. J. Paitrv. P. M. Phelan. H. J. Rodley. A, B. Townshend. S. L. Wadsworth. ARTTLLERY. P. B. Broad. H-iR. Best. I/. Menzies. R. H. Hadfield. MOUNTED. L. E. Berkett. J. O'Donnell. S. Ecwe. . AMBULANCE. J. McDachlan. j ENGTNEERS. C. T. Teece. ARMY SERJV3CE CORPS. JR. Davman. H-. J. "M. Wendelborn. • WELIJNGTON'S QUOTA SHORT. (United Press Association-^ WELLINGTON, This Day. The Wellington city quota for the 21st Reinforcements mobilised to-day 72 short.