NOT FORGOTTEN

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 586, 18 July 1933, Page 4

NOT FORGOTTEN

PIONEER SOLDIJ COL. PRASER REca| memories opsotiI AFRICA 1 FINE-SPIRITED~V0iJRjj| Colonel E. G. Fraser Was« ei at the Rotorua Rotarv rjliiS eon yesterday and ietookfl ject the part played. by the ■ land contingent in ,the BoeJ Colonel Fraser pointed oul spite the fact that a Goveri3 mise to do so had been giv^ cial account of New ZealaJ in .this war has been puhl^S was a great pity, and unle3 mise was carried out, studei ture generations would M archives in vain for an .offiJS of the exploits of the men 3 in this war and thus a splej in New Zealand history woul "The final conflict hetweenl and the English came J 1899," he said. "The ultimj sented hy the Boers to U treated as a declaration n« the first act of war was t^9 of Natal hy the Boer co'3 New Zealand heard ithe yM Parliament was assembled,* but a single dissentient, u'lfl agreed to offer troops to 9 Country. The offer was reaS ed and within two wee/J contingent of New ZealaS to be sent overseas to from Wellington in the S.S9 for South Africa. ■ "Then followed at inter9 ing a period of nearly thfl more contingents of mounM until a tatai of 10 conting® prising over 6000 officers* missioned officers and men 9 ed. It is interestig to note M growth of the strength of tfl ents 'as the war dragged 9 was considered that the h9 in which the New Zealand « held by the Imperial Ge9 was partially, if not wholM ible for this condition. 9 Fine Soldiers 9 "That the New Zealand s9 went to South Africa posse9 conception of the high idS cipline and comradeship tM no doubt, and those staff.U the high commands who 9 fied to judge were unstint® praise of the New Zealand 9 'a whole. 9 The living force of the » oped by these men can « day wherever they are gfl gether and one has only* sent at an annual re-uniofl African War Veterans in 9 New Zealand to realise the9 ing of comradeship. 9 The example set and th9 ditions handed down hy ti* served in South Africa we* edly an/ inspiration to land soldiers of the Great 9 splendid officers and non-^B ed officers who served witl* land contingents were cho|9 ers of our troops in the laH many indeed niade the si|9 rifice. 9 In the South African ^9 were very sparingly awa|H is interesting to hnow tha* of honours were awarded* N.C.O.'s and men of the* land troops. Many acts;* were performed by indivij* were unseen by the autho^H paucity of honours is no ^^| the gallantry of the trooj® List of Honours Aw^B The honours awarded laws: — H Meritorious Service, CoaH the Bath, five officers; CoS St. Michael and St. GeoiJ eers; Distinguished Ser^H four officers. ^9 Mentioned in despatch services rendered — 64 offic^O and men. Distinguished ConductJM awards to N.C.O.'s 1^9 Victoria Cross. — One Major Hardham. |9 Obituary jH Killed in action or die^B or disease. — lst Contiiig-^^H Contingent, 22; 3rd 001^9 4th Contingent, 19; 5™^9 25; 6th Contingent, 18; 48; 8th Contingent, 36; gent, 4; 10th Contingent 224. ■ This represents about of troops lost. In the loss was about 21 Pe\^^9 Although the intensiiyj^H infinitely greater in the the South African Vtf -JM of disease in the South paign was greater. ,^9 clothed in comparison > the Great War, can it H that these anen aged broke down in health middle age. Actuated as they w of patriotism and loyaw^M ous" Flag that has freedom and protectiont were all volunteers) they should be forgottt how easily are those w their country forgotteaj^H system of pensions men who served in sions were only lflvelr^H were wounded and sn disahility. m f^9 The after effects oi^m .traeted on service ed. How different wast t from the soldiers of © After many years only recognition Sow veterans get from an addition 0$ 5/- P they are entitled ^^9 sion. „aM9 The Maori war veter ceive a pension mi the conclusion of h is still hope for ment for New Zealand s* seas soldiers. Fin'ally, the earnest hope that . ^9 would not fail "U the deeds of New JM the South African terity might leai-n ehaxacteristics P°Si. body of men ^ the honour o&theur number, a tes, At the continsto^^*