Thank you for correcting the text in this article. Your corrections improve Papers Past searches for everyone. See the latest corrections.

This article contains searchable text which was automatically generated and may contain errors. Join the community and correct any errors you spot to help us improve Papers Past.

Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image

BACK FROM THE WAR.

WELCOME TO CAPTAIN HARTNELL. BY DEFACE RIFLE CLUB. There was a large gathering of members of the New Plymouth Defence Ribe Club and others at May and Arrowsmith's tea rooms last night for the purpose' of doing honor and according a hearty welcome to Captain (late Lieut.) Hartnell. The chair was occupied by Mr. F. J. Hill, president of the Club, who, in opening the proceedings, said he was quite sure all present would recognise it as a privilege to be present that evening to welcome Lieut. Hartnell, and he was sure that the welcome would be a hearty one. He then called on the company to honor the toast of "The King," and needless to say such a company of military enthusiasts did ample justice to the toast as well as to the National Anthem. The president then proposed "Our Guest," and, in so doing said that it was. twelve years ago since he became acquainted with Lieut. Hartnell in military matters, and though not eligible as an active member of the Club, Mr. Hartnell had always done his best to forward itt object and the efficient shooting of the members. In addition to that he has started the movement for ontaining a Rifle Club Shield, and had been one of the chief contributors. Captain T. C. Mills expressed the great pleasure he felt at being present to honor one of volunteers. He referred to the formation of the Taranaki Guards Corps, of which Mr. Hartnell was one of the first members, and read out a list of Guards who had taken part in the present war, and between twenty and thirty he mentioned that had also volunteered, but had been turned down. In conclusion, he extended a hearty welcome to the guest of the evening. Mr. A. L. Humphries also expressed his pleasure at being present to welcome Lieut. Hartnell not only as a soldier, but aa a citizen, and one who had earned the respect and esteem of all who knew him. He hoped that when their guest against returned to the Dominion he would bring with him further honors. Mr. W. F. Short in adding his tribute to Lieut. Hartnell's services to the club laid special stress on the valuable assistance he had given in connection with rifle shooting. Mr. A. H. Johnstone 9aid he was pleased to assist in welcoming Lieut. Hartnell, and he wished him a speedy return to robust health. Although his acquaintance with Mr. Hartnell was but a short one, he had been much struck by the earnestness evinced by him in military matters, and by his willingness to help his country, so that now he had come back it was only fitting to express their warm feelings of regard towards him. No doubt. Lieut. Hartnell would have been better pleased to come back and find things different frim what they were in New Zealand. Pleasure was going on as usual, gambling, raffles and carnival queen competitions were in full swing, j-et our soldiers were dying in Gallipoli. It did not seem as if the people had yet appreciated the gravity of the situation, but if the members of the Rifle Club took a more serious view of the position the time would come when good would come out of it. (Applause). Lieut.-Colonel Bellnnger, on behalf of the Xlth Regiment joined with the previous speakers in welcoming Lieut. Hartnell. He greatly regretted the loss of Colonel Malone, but he knew that gallant officer regarded Lieut. Hartnell as one of the best of his officers. Every word he had heard about their guest was of the highest praise. Any officer who, like Lieut, xiartnell, could come back having earned the confidence of his men should certainly be accorded honor among hia fellow citizens. He concluded by stating that their guest had been promoted to the rank of captain, the announcement being received with enthusiastic applause, and the toast being accompanied with musical honors. On rising to respond, Captain Hartnell received a great ovatiou. He said lie was very much afraid that he did not merit all the good things that had been said about him, but none the less he heartily thanked them for their generous welcome which was far beI yond his utmost expectations. He hid only been doing his duty and no more. After roaming over the sandy wastes of Cairo and the scrub-covered hills of Gallipoli, it was a treat" to get backto New Zealand. With reference to his impressions of occurrences on the Peninsular, he only know about his own little surroundings, but had read in the papers of heroic events that he did not know had happened. He could assure those present that his lads in their fighting had not disappointed their friends in Xew Zealand. If the Australians were asked which were the best troops, the.v would say the New Zealanders, and if the latter were asked the same question they would reply the Australians, but for the class of fighting going on in the Peninsula the Australasians were out on their own. If there was tough work to be done the Colonials would do it. He was struck on his return by the number of young men to be seen around bars and in the streets, and he wondered why they did not go to help their comrades at the front. He also pointed out the great advantages of the physical training received by recruits. They all felt very proud of what had been done at Anzac, but that achievement was nothing to be compared with the feat winch took place a little lower down, to which Anzac was mere child's play Only trained men could have landed there. Boat after boat reached the shore with only four or five men left, and yet they won through. The advance of the troops on May 8 was really magnificent, the movement eliciting from an old officer the remark that it was the finest thing ,= ,w ;??n, and these were' the troops that some of the people in New Zealand wondered whether they would he any good. Tlie speaker gave a graphic sketch of the advance at Suvlu when the New Zealand Mounteds cleared the way for the infantry, and did it well. The natives followed, but when it came to a scrap the Maoris rushed to the front. The various movements made in the attempt to capture Hill 971 were described as well as the sultry nature of the works wherein the Xew Zealand platoon lost eighteen men. At 3 a.m.. they were withing 350 yards of the objective, but could only hold on sufficiently long to dig-in, and enable the position to be consolidated. In that trench, said the speaker, are many of the men reported as missing.' He was the only officer who came out alive —the rest having died like heroes—and it was owing to the wounds received that he had been invalided home. It was in this work that gallant Sergeant Reg. Sole laid down liis life. Harrowing as were such scenes it was well that they should be described if only to show the willing sacrifices made by our men, in striking contrast to the Indiffcrenee of those who itav ivt

home. He was sure the time would come when service would be compulsory. He hoped that by the time his leave expired he would be again passed as fit for service, and then ho would take the first boat lie could so as to get back to the firing line. If ever a true history of the war on the Gallipoli Peninsula were written it will be found to contain no more brilliant and valient effort than that made by Colone' Malone's attempt to capture Chunuk Bair. Referring to Kitchener's new army, Captain Hartnell said they were not at all bad, but it must be remembered the men were mostly drawn from the cities, and if they lost their officers they had not the same initiative and resourcefulness as the colonials. lie had never seen a New Zealander either turn back or look back at a comrade and swear ut him for goiiig back. In conclusion, he said that any credit for wh«.c he had done in the trench on that eventful Friday night was due to the men under him. Out of the forty-five men who went into the trench only five were left. (Applause). Other toasts included "The Army and Navy," and "The Defence Rifle Club," the latter being proposed by Captain Hartnell and responded to by the president. During the evening, appropriate songs were rendered by Messrs. Day, Farmer, and others, Mr. T C. Shore presiding at the piano.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TDN19151110.2.70

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Taranaki Daily News, 10 November 1915, Page 8

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,455

BACK FROM THE WAR. Taranaki Daily News, 10 November 1915, Page 8

BACK FROM THE WAR. Taranaki Daily News, 10 November 1915, Page 8

Help

Log in or create a Papers Past website account

Use your Papers Past website account to correct newspaper text.

By creating and using this account you agree to our terms of use.

Log in with RealMe®

If you’ve used a RealMe login somewhere else, you can use it here too. If you don’t already have a username and password, just click Log in and you can choose to create one.


Log in again to continue your work

Your session has expired.

Log in again with RealMe®


Alert