“IN BLIGHTY”

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19886, 15 May 1936, Page 8

“IN BLIGHTY”

EX-SOLDIERS’ REUNION. GATHERING IN HAMILTON. A GLORIOIJS MEMORY. The ca‘meradie and tho lighter side of active service were transposed to the \Vinier Show Hall last evening when 230 “diggers" gathered al the annual reunlon of lhe \Vaikato Heturned Soldiers‘ Assoriation. Walker's Ridge, Passrhemlale. The Somme and even "Bliglity"—these were names that placarded the hall to bring back q thousand memories. 110th gay and poignant. to the (ax—servicemen. The president of the association. Mr E. F. Clayton—Greene. presided‘ while the guest of honour was Major H. H. S. \\'estmacoii. of Oiorohanga. who was warmly welcomed by Mr ClaytonGreene.

I There were a few brief but solemn moments when the toast of absent comrades was proposed by Mr E. C. Day. The gathering stood in silence as Robert Louis Stevenson's ‘Requiem' was sung by Mr K. P. Eade to be followed by the sounding 0f the Last Post and then the challenging notes of the Reveille. : Proposing the toast of the New (Zealand Expeditionary Force and the ‘neturned Soldiers' Association. the Dean of Hamilton. the Very Rm: ’l‘. P. \Yeathei'hog said that the records of ithe Force were imperishahle and it was impossible to assess the value of its services. It was a lllOSl precious memory and. pnssessinz no mere transitory \'alue, would he carried on as tradition through the ages. 'Fellowshlp Commended. ‘ Speaking of the association the‘ Dean warmly commended its dominant i characteristic of fellowship. It had‘ been thought that. with other organisations of its kind it would, with the‘ passage 01‘ the years, gradually ldwlndle into recess. but, in point oft -fact, it had steadily increased. This‘i lsense of fellowship was an asset to lsociety and the experience or the war years had assisted men to neglect the small things in favour of the major‘ issues of life. The cut, at a man's tunic had mattered little when he was" “going over the top.“ Replying, Major Westmacott said that he had been criticised in some Iquarters for speaking of war whichl he had been said to have glorified at ’Anzac Day services. He denied the accusation and stated that it was dirflcult to refrain from referring to the subject on such an occasion. He re-l called the early dais of enlistment in‘ the Dominion when he had travelled through the tastness of the King Country to recruit a platoon of 'O6 men. He. had gone down at the outset. of action and. although he was lfound a position in France. Gallipnli had meant the end of his ambitions.‘ {Precious memories remained. ‘ The Ordlnnry Men. “The \Var gave us a great deal to admire in the common, ordinary type of man," the, speaker said. “He was never hesitant and performed his duty without any thought or personal loss or gain." Major Westmacntt conclud— Ed hy referring to the steady progress made by the Returned Soldiers' Association and stressed the, need for Dominion-wide activities. “Stick together" should he the motto of members, particularly. when such ab‘le leaders as Sir Andrew Ilusst‘ll and the lion. \V. Perry. men or wide popular—ity and considcruhlc iinportance., were, at the, helm. 1

The toast. of neighbouring associa—tions and the entertainers was proposed by Mr D. Uatc. During the evening vocal items were presented by Messrs H. Saunders, H‘ P. Evans. J. C. McCready and K. Eerie. The accompanist was Mr F. Harrison and incidental music was provided by the Regent Dance Band. Many war-time choruses were sung. Messrs R. Sweet and J. Blackhall acting as leaders.