THE COLOURS

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19899, 30 May 1936, Page 10

THE COLOURS

THE REGIMENT PARADES. l PLATOON IN KUITI. A DAY OF BE’MINISCENCE. (Written for the Times.) AI A pageant it wee a great success. The battle honours were emblazoned on the Colours, the band played bnvely. and the regiment moved as one man as the music tolled out the old and rang in the new. Even th-z ephoopal touch wws reminiscent of m compulsory church parades which so often, it is said. brought the buttmons together on the fields of hence. ,

In a corner of the ground stood the platoon in mufti. and for them the mount formed a background or o nommemoration which will not be forgotten. There stood 80 or 100 men. remnants of many companies and units, who had helped to write those mules upon the Colours of the Waihto Regiment. There were men who but uerved on Galiipoli, in France and Flanders. They had manned the Wet trenches. climbed through the flooded shell-holes, taken thorough with the smooth as being all in the day’s or the night‘s work. Wandering among these warriors of other days, listening to the talk. 1 entered into (I. world in whirh pageantry seemed more and more re—mote. Mnny of the men had not even brought their medals. The constant. senrch. the one desire. “as to meet some old comrade, an old pol or the days when one just hung on. “There he is,“ cried :1 short man with drooping shoulders. “Hey. Hugh, here; we were looking for you." “By the Lord." came the reply. "Are you Stumpy"! Great heavens. We left you in that shell-hole on the Somme. but reckoned that the stretcher-bearers might make something of you if they got along in time. It's twenty years since I saw your old (ill. Where did you spring from. anyhow?" "There‘s eighty of us down from Auckland." Stumpy explained. "Thought we‘d find some old friends. But this is good. Did you ever promenade with Gretchen on the Rhine?" "Not much. Took my issue at .\hilly; machine gun. It took a lot or ul. - Quecks held an inquest and could not make out how i lived. Glad I did. though. . . . Say. iooki" He pointed to an elderly man with a straight back, a. square jaw. and a. friendly eye. "Best oiiiccr i ever had. Hold him up to the kids as a model. Must have a word with him.“ He .ioved along. “Hoped you‘d be here,“ said Hugh. “Do you mean to say it‘s—it‘s Hugh Jones? Weren‘t you with us in that shell—hole on Calgary Range when i we» hit?“

“I was." said Hugh. “and Bob Robinson had the Lewis sun. Do you romemher borrowing my rltle to pot. a Hun? The sergeant got his while Bob was trying to tlnd the ‘slot." “You. I remember. 1 was always sorry I left. My bullet, made a lot of malls. but it was harmless. By the

wey. how many went. out with Johnny on the “in Never quite knew." "Well." some the reply, “twelve eta-ted out. but only eight reached the billets) The his men looked end. “One other end eight men on whet they called a successful dny. And on the 18th the Division was about wiped out. I woe in hospital when the onuaity [lets come through. Do you remember Hill and Cable? 1 just cried as 1 read the list. 1 was rather bed ot the time." "Mind coming over here 7“ said the mu). "Went to introduce you to my wife and kids." And they moved off. "Here‘s Steve.“ said a red—hendcd veteran in a confidential manner. "Heuwukis, your wiilue are wusty. Bel he knows your mum-1‘ “\\r’oli. \\‘ichardra,” said the latest Arrival. “Still ii\lng the virtuous life? I‘ll have a look at the cwinu: sheet." "You win.“ sol-i RlChnrds. and the others laughed. An exwflicer strolled up to two men who were standing 3 little apart from the platoon in mutti. 'l‘he taller was looking into the distance—looking. trying to bridge the wars. The fin»out features were those of a dreamer: the strong nose gave promise that the dreams might come true. "l‘ve forgotten your name, but i know you." “Linton." said.the man. "This is my brother. “’6 were in 14. It‘s a far cry to .\leseines and Passchendaele. Queer world. Twenty years and the war‘e not finished. ilopo these boys don‘t find out what war‘s like.“ “I remember." said the ofllcer with emphasis. “Didn't i see you one morning saving a horse for :1 Tommy omcer‘.’ lwns coming out with a working pni‘ty." “\Vell, I‘m .i farmer. Couldn‘t lot a horse drown." “Don‘t know. obviously you could not. {or you were up to your \\.ii~'t in water and it was .I frosty morninK.“ “Strange you rmncmluering that.“ said the man. ".\t’tcr all. horses were Valuable just then. and n horsu is a horse." I wandered nn. “Strife. ain‘t you Stanton?“ said a his. raw-boned follow. i looked round and new a slender man who might have been about. furl.)- 30am 0! ago. He must haw hm'n only :1 lad when he went. “.\iwuys wanted to whet )nu again." said the his man. “You‘re. the .\l..\[. it should have been the D.Cu.\i., ten times over.“ "ilrre. son" —thls to a big boy \\lio \\‘as shunting near. “This is tlm man who led me through my iirst barrage. Not much ut instructing," and he smiled, “but he could it‘uvi." “Remember the morning the SOS went up in front or \Varneton‘! Pretty hot day that." Then there was a rush or con\‘M’silllOi’i. “Yrs. and they could march." "And i always had a. high respect for the output or the Mills factory.“ "lie said he was SL'tH‘L'll stit‘f, so he .lvvidwt to keep in tho lead when we “out over." "Now-r found out \\liiit ‘#.li.ll.‘ stood fm~_ n was on all ilh- rum .Iglrsf‘ "A “-1,“!mnn it' nor tln‘rt- \\.i.\ our," ".\‘M‘or saw him tit-min.” “ilniln't \\r lin'lrlrr sti‘nikhll‘n out this line .1 hit?" mid the big man. “He‘ll think \\t‘ ran away. or put us down in" tunks" "xi-l too nulrh of Hull." I‘lliil' lln- WM). “'l'llx- Dinks could :li'ill .11l rixltl. l'mlvr llln‘ ".\6 m' Hu'ili" tl l"i|llun, . . ’l‘ltnrust \\.h !-~sl 11l ilil' 111111 l nl' ('«lll\|‘[‘ “nun. ltul iln- [illl' \\.|\ slt'uiuhli‘uwl. 'l"Ic yldiuun iii 1111111 l \\.As slum!) on p.m.nio.