OLD SOLDIERS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21211, 6 September 1940, Page 7

OLD SOLDIERS

ACTIVITY IN WAIKATO VISITS TO HOSPITAL MEN ON GUARD DUTY (By “Dink”) It is very pleasing to note that the Waikato Returned Soldiers’ Association is numerically the seventh strongest in the Dominion. This desirable position is maintained only by the keenness and close attention to business by the executive and general enthusiasm of the members. Notwithstanding this happy state of affairs there are still numbers of returned men in the Waikato who have allowed their membership to lapse, or for some other reason have not taken the interest in our association that it deserves and, we are looking forward to their rectifying that position at an early date. * * * * The motto of all returned soldiers should be, “I will wear my badge,” and in doing so they should make certain that the badge has the red crown attachment on it. This attachment has the figures 1941 on it, and signifies that the wearer is a financial member for the current year. It may be mentioned in passing that all badges are the property of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association and only financial members of the association are entitled to wear them. Mr C. A. Voss, of Hamilton, who during the last war held a commission in the Ist Battalion of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade and was for a time attached to the Ist Canterburys, has for some time been at Papakura Camp undergoing specialised training. Mr Voss also acted as drum-major in the Hamilton Caledonian Society’s Pipe Band. He has now returned to Hamilton in the capacity of Headquarters Infantry Brigade Officer. A recent inmate of the Waikato Hospital was Mr R. P. Knight, of the Ngaruawahia Returned Soldiers’ Association. We wish him a complete and speedy recovery from his indisposition. * * * * A little-known function of the Waikato Returned Soldiers’ Association is that at least once a week a member of the executive in company with another member of the association visits all the men’s wards in the Waikato Hospital to maintain contact with any returned soldier who is undergoing treatment. Whether the patient is a member of our association or not does not make any difference. The visitors are at his service to attend to any matter, large or small. Visitors are privileged to attend to many duties, which include pension matters, provision of minor comforts, where necessary, in fact any request is given every attention. In this connection our association is particularly grateful to the clerical staff of the hospital, who prepare a list of returned soldier inmates without which it would be impossible to locate them in such a large institution. Relatives of returned soldier patients in the hospital will no doubt be pleased to learn of the above attention, especially those who live at some distance from Hamilton.

The undermentioned returned soldiers from Hamilton were quick to get into line again, and as members of Vital Points Guard have been stationed at Hopu Hopu and have just completed 12 months’ service:— Sergeant G. Grant, Corporal S. Stokes, Privates W. O’Brien, M. Trainor, J. Anderson, W. Borman, J. Doody, J. Findlay, W. Patterson, A. Early and N. Morrow.

Mr Peter Henry, of the local association, who during the last war saw active service with the Second Battery New Zealand Field Artillery, is again in the lists on duty as a corporal of the guard at the Air Force Station, New Plymouth.

“Dink” wishes to express appreciation of the many complimentary messages received anent this column, and in doing so asks members of our association to send in any items of general interest. The Waikato Times has very generously placed this column at the disposal of the Waikato Returned Soldiers’ Association, and its success will depend upon our own efforts.