Dinner for V.C.’s

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 798, 19 October 1929, Page 5

Dinner for V.C.’s

HOLDERS in NEW ZEALAND NOT EXPECTED TO GO TO LONDON DOMINION'S SEVEN AWARDS At the moment, at least, the prospects of the attendance of New Zealand holders of the Victoria Cross attending the dinner to be giyen in London next month by the Prince of Wales are remote. rpHE time and the cost of the journey .1 between New Zealand and England are considered to be circumstances prohibitive to attendance. Further, no official word in connection with the dinner has been received at the offices of the Northern Military Command. This morning LieutenantColonel J. E. Duigan said that the invitations to attend the dinner were probably private. Tt was not even known that Xew Zealand holders of the decoration had yet received invitations. ■When the holding of the dinner was proposed, the English public was astonished at the discovery that many soldiers who had gained the decoration were in straitened circumstances. Several newspapers have said it was disgraceful to have allowed men possessing the Empire’s highest award for gallantry to sink in life. Appeals are being made to allow V.C.'s requiring assistance to attend the dinner in comfort. In Ontario, the Government has offered to pay the expenses of Ontario, men travelling to the dinner. New Zealand has seven soldiers who sained the decoration while serving in the Dominion forces. They are: Captain L. tV. Andrew, of the Staff Corps; Lieutenant I!. S. Judson, Staff Corps; Lieutenant C. R. G. Bassett, Reserve of Officers; Lieutenant J. G. Grant, Taranaki Regiment; Lieutenant S. Frickieton, Sergeant H. J. Laurent and Sergeant J. Crichton. Lieutenant Judson has been transferred, after long service as area ufficer at Auckland, to the position of adjutant of the First Battalion, Taranaki Regiment, and of area officer at New Plymouth. Lieutenant E. Tingey will replace Lieutenant Judjson. and Captain F. L. Hunt, Dunedin, will take Lieutenant Tingey’s position as weapon training officer.