Comrades Reunite

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 62, 4 June 1927, Page 17

Comrades Reunite

VETERANS’ LUNCHEON TRIBUTES TO OLD SOLDIERS Old soldiers never die. Chatting of camps and battles of long ago, the King’s Empire veterans renewed old comradeships at their annual reunion dinner in the Town Hall yesterday. ■While the orchestra played oldfashioned airs from the musical re- ! pertoire of barrack and bivouac, Orakau, and the great days of other campaigns were discussed, fought over again, and the years fell away. And when old marches rent the air the floor rocked under feet of rejuvenated old soldiers on the march again. About 16 veterans attended from the Veterans’ Home, though two of the young scamps are said to have defaulted to go to the races instead. About 40 or 50 old soldiers altogether were present, including men of many campaigns. LORD RANFURLY Proposing the toast of “The founder of the Veterans’ Home,’’ Mr. W. B. Leyburn paid a compliment to Lord Ranfurly. During the 24 years since the foundation hundreds of veterans had been saved there the anxieties of their age, and had had the comradeship of their fellow veterans and the pleasures of discussing together their interestingpasts. Lord Ranfurly, he hoped, would live long to remember his work for the veterans. Responding, Mr. H. R. Mackenzie, stated that nothing finer could be done than Lord Ranfurly had done in looking after the men who had fought for King and Empire, and made the British nation. If Lord Ranfurly were in the Dominion to-day he would feel a happy man to know that what he had done had been so appreciated. He quoted from a letter which the former Governor had written to the Hon. VV. K. Garland expressing his gratification to hear that they were not forgotten and that their veterans were being looked after. He had met Lord Jellicoe several times and chatted with him about New Zealand. Though he had projected a short trip to the Dominion he had had to postpone it. Proposing the King’s Empire Veterans, the mayor, Mr. G. Baildon, referred to the pleasure of seeing so many veterans at the reunion. But there were some faces which were missed, but that in the nature of the case was only to be expected. He remembered the first time he had been at the function: the room had been fuller on that occasion. Reference to the presence of Mr. Rowley Hill called forth rounds of applause. Mr. Hill continued the mayor, was a veteran of veterans, a link with Crimea and the Indian Mutiny. He hoped Mr. Hill might, be long spared to attend these functions. Mr. Baildon expressed his pleasure at seeing them all so well. THE VETERANS Captain Stichbury. in responding, said that he was not sure whether it was a meeting of the veterans or a meeting of the City Council to give them a dinner. He complimented the mayor on his continuance of the office. Before the advent of Lord Ranfurly the veterans of early wars were regarded as nobodies. They had to wait 50 years to get a. penny of pensions. Lord Ranfurly had taken a great interest in the old soldiers, and had sponsored the formation of the Empire Veterans’ Association, but after Lord Kitchener had paid his visit to Auckland the name had been changed to the King's Empire Veterans. He also established the Veterans’ Home. Lord Jellicoe was a great help to the veterans, as was also the present GovernorGeneral. Sir Charles Pergusson. Referring to the pensions paid to the .Miion \\ ur veterans, he read from a return by the Pensions Department, which showed that there were 90 Maori War veterans in Auckland receiving pensions amounting to £4 142 1 -»s 2 a lor the years 1926-1927. There “were 3*4 veterans of that war in the Dominion, and to them £1,9,457 was paid in pensions in 1926 and 1927. But died I **** 1 tllat Period 70 veterans had The toast of “The Army and Navy” evmiP r a J ?? Se ? by Mr E - w Inder, who extolled the heroism of British soldiers sailors throughout the nation's hisResponding- on behalf of the Navy Commander Bradley, of H.M.S. Philo-’ “■remarked the romantic associations or the word ‘-veteran.” It was men such . e veterans and heroism such as that 'had made the nation. On behalf of the Army, Lieutenant K. S Judson, V.C., D.C.M., M.M„ spoke ot the traditions of the Army which, handed down from the veterans to the younger generation of soldiers, kept level StandardS ° f thG Army at a hi&h On the motion of Lieutenant G. Powfy- votes Of thanks were passed to Honors to the King’s Empire Veterans, Inference being made to the Auckland ,V ty 9 oancil - the Auckland Patriotic Association, the Returned Soldiers’ AsS °'rK*i° n anc * voluntary helpers. The musical programme was supplied by the Municipal Band string ! orchestra, Mr. A. H.)Ripley, Miss A. ■McGruer and Mr. G. Bush.