FRONTIERSMEN.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 November 1922, Page 8

FRONTIERSMEN.

PARITUTU TROOP DINNER. A SUCCESSFUL GATHERING. The annual dinner in connection with the Paritutu troop of the Legion of Frontiersmen was held on Friday evening at Kawaroa Park bungalow, when a, large gathering of frontiersmen, representative of all the units in the province, assembled. Troop-Leader Lieut. , Geo. Bertrand presided. After an excellent dinner had been disposed of, “The King” was proposed by Colonel C. H. Weston, D. 5.0., and loyally honored. “The Legion” was proposed by Captain Jago. who said that he felt greatly honored in being entrusted to propose the toast. When he said that he did so with all sincerity. Indeed, it was owing to circumstances over which he had no control that he was not a 'member. Personally, he thought the legion was a very useful and wonderful organisation. It was one of the few organisations that was distinctly and honestly patriotic—where the element of personal gain did not enter and tne common cause was its objective. It was not lip patriotism with the legion, but the real thing. Its, most remarkable feature was its percolation to the remotest portions of the British Empire, and on that account alone it should be looked up to and encouraged by all right-thinking and patriotic people. It gfiAe him great pleasure to recall the fine example set by Legionaries during the early part- of the war, when some 2000 stalwarts volunteered for service cn bloc, only to ’be turned down and. distributed into the various arms of the service. But the fact that they were separated did not in any way prevent the individual doing yeoman sendee. It seemed a pity that they could not have left these shores as -a contingent. While i on the subject he would like to mention the splendid work performed by that fine legionary and soldier, Major Twistleton, who died on November 14. 1917, at the head of his men at Aymer Kara, .Palestine, in one of the most desperate ; encounters experienced. The major had ; only been posted a few weeks prior to the A.M.R., and he (the speaker) could well remember his expression of thankfulness <at being posted once more to a mounted unit —just two weeks prior to hi.s death. Tie would also like to mention his fine services on Gallipoli, where he was appointed leader of scouts and was mentioned in dispatches by General Hamilton. May his name be for ever remembered in the legion. Locally, the legion appeared to be thriving, and no doubt it would con-, tinue >to do so as long as the reins ox government were in such trustworthy hands as those of Colonel Weston as chief, and Lieutenants Bertrand, Laing. Fraser Jones. Norman Jones and Wright, as troop leader-. He wished the good old legion every success, and hoped it would eventually recruit nil the available good citizens in the province and forever bo a power for good. In replying to the toast, Frontiersman Lieut. Q. F.- Bertrand said that everv frontiersman felt deeply grateful

to those men who had done so much to build up the British Empire—frontiersmen. • VTien honoring t*lie toast it was of those men they wore thinking, and at the same moment those men were thinking of those present that evening on such an occasion. zMI wore doing their utmost to carry on the good work. Frontiersmen in far-away lands were the men that had made the Empire. as they have had to fight for the flag in all parts of the world. To the older members of the legion the credit was due, and it was up to the younger members to uphold the traditions, and that could only be done by word and deed. Only recently a call was made, and a ready and solid response was made by the Legion of Frontiersmen in defence ‘/if the Empire. (Applause).

“The Veterans’’ was proposec by Colonel Weston, DS.O., who said that unhappily the veterans were a fast diminishing band. Each year the list of members proved that many had answered the great call. They were born and bred brave men, and he hoped that such a noble trait would be handed down to their sons. It. wa« fitting that the deeds of such men should he honored. The legion bad .spread io all parts of the world, and still continued to grow and faithfully carry out theii duties. There would always be work for the legion to do as long as the British Empire lasted. i Comrade Archdeacon Evans, in rei spending, said that some people gave ihim the credit of being a veteran, but ■he did not lay claim to that honor. The veterans were a remarkably fine lot of men who never failed to do Their duty. What was it that animated our young men to offer their services in the great war? It was the spirit of their fathers and grandfathers. (Applause). Speaking of the Legion of Frontiersmen, he said that it was the most wonderful organisation in the world. When the call for duty came during the groat war they volunteered as a whole. Such gatherings as the one that evening he looked upon as excellent, as it brought members together for the purpose of spending an enjoyable evening and also to listen to interesting speeches and wise remarks. Frontiersman Pike also responded on behalf of the South African veterans. Other toasts honored were: “The U.S.A.” (Lieut. O’Neill—Sorgt.-Major !G. E. Roper and Sergt.-Major Stevens); j “The Frontier” (Tr’oop-Sergt. A. Smith —Lieut. Hunter): “Army. Navy, and I Air Force.” “Absent Friends.” •'■Daughters |of the Le.gion,” “Vis’< ors.” “The Entcr- ; tainers.” and “The Press.” A bright programme of musical and elocutionary itema was contributed to I bv Messrs. E. Lomas, S. Cottier. H. ! Vcght. R. Murphy, H. Morey. H. Greer, IC. Andrews, B. Hartman, B. Bellringer.