ROYAL IRISH.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 July 1921, Page 5

ROYAL IRISH.

FIFTY-EIGHTH REUNION. The surviving pioneer soldiers of the 2nd Battalion of the 18th Royal Irish Regiment met at Auckland the other day to celebrate the 58th anniversary of their landing in Auckland, assembling nt the Queen Victoria statue in Albert Park, as they have done annually for the last eight years. When, after bitter warfare in the Waikato, the regiment left Auckland in 1870, some 300 remained and settled in the countiy for which they had fought so well, and it is the surviving members of this notable little company of men who meet year after year to renew old comradeships and talk over the days gone by.

Although the weather was chilly and rainy, nine of the veterans were on parade, and, despite the fact that the youngest man among them was 78 years old, they showed the spirit and vim of men in their prime. Color-Sergeant W. Forsythe, of Wanganui, a veteran in his 83rd year, was in charge of the parade, the other present being W. H. Clark,» 90 years of age, and the proud wearer of the Crimean medal; D. Heitman, 86 years old; R. Little, 86; C. Clark, 82; H. Waite, 82; J. Shaw, 82; T. Enniss, 78; and G. Edgecombe. Since the first reunion was held in 1913 19 of this little band of surviving pioneers have passed away, including eight who have died since last year’s reunion, these being Captain G. Hawkesby, Sergeant C. McDevitt (Sydney), Privates J. Stevenson, R. Barry (Sydney), F. Farr, A. Canavan, T. Kinsella, and J. Murphy. The other veterans who have answered the last call since 1913 are Sergeant R. Glenn, P. Duddy, W. Kernolly, J. Neylon, Color-Sergeant A. Ladd, Mr. Sheehy, T. Meazey, J. Henry, 8. Sparxs, J. Kernihan and J. Farrell.