PLATOON REUNION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 February 1941, Page 7

PLATOON REUNION

NEW ZEALAND TRANSPORT BATTALION GATHERING IN EGYPT. A SIGNIFICANT FUNCTION Of unusual interest and some significance smee it was the first of its kind the first "reunion" of the transport Platoon of the 26th Battalion. N.Z.E.F in Egypt, was marked by a smoke concert at Hainan Health Resort on January 6 It was decided to hold a similar reunion every year The guests of the evening were the officer commanding the platoon (Lieut R. Bethel Culverdcn* and the platoon sergeants A scroll bearing the signatures of all present was presented t< Lieut. Bethell, who replied in suitable terms. The men of this platoon, the larges', with the unit, were all tried drivers drawn from all parts of the South Island. and the fact was reflected in the programme Under the chairmanship of Private J. McG Benson < West Coast' the toast list, following "The King." included the following: "The Cid Diggers" "Our Allies" "Platoon C.C," "Other Services." and Absent Ones." Vocal items were contributed by Corpora! F Den ‘Nelson). Lance-Cor-poral E. James ‘Dunedin'. Private J. McG. Benson iWest Coast'. M. Pratley iPort Chalmers) and instrumental numbers by Sergeant Costello ‘Nelson* Sergeant Philpot ‘lnvercargill* and Private Peat ‘Otago Central', Sergeant Warren provided the accompaniments. A successful evening was concluded with "Auld Lang Syne."

Those who signed the scroll were: —J. A. Carmen. H G. Philpot D. Brvan. H. G. Bruhn, C. R. Huband. C. D. Bailey. D. A. Griffin. W. J. Samson. N. M. Samson. R. Black. K. A. Pound B H. Norrie. F. Yager. N S. Bennett, A. G. Midgley. W. E. Costello. J. M. Sheppard G. Nicolles. A E. Clark. M. Metzger D. McLeod J E Denton. E. 11 Miller, K. W. Lester 1 W Iles. M A Pratley, D. Miller, F. O. Delany. E. Peat. L Gemmell. J. Kerr. W. R. Page, H. McKay J M. Higgs. J H. O'Sullivan R. Robinsen. R. H. L. Hamilton. W. E. McMeekan. J. W. Edmonds, Eric James.