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Dunsandel farewells and welcomes to WW1 Soldiers in the first Dunsandel Hall/Library 1917
Description
TitleDunsandel farewells and welcomes to WW1 Soldiers in the first Dunsandel Hall/Library 1917
Description1917 was again a busy year for the Send-off Committee.
Not only were there farewells but there were also some soldiers to be welcomed home.
Unfortunately all the soldiers that arrived back in Dunsandel in 1917 had been wounded.
Farewells in 1917 in the Dunsandel Hall began in March with a large attendance at a farewell [1] to Privates W. Skinner and W. McKenzie.
Before proceeding with the programme the Rev. Reid, read the honours list of the 56 soldiers who had left Dunsandel.
Letters had been received during the week from soldiers at the front and most of them contained words of appreciation to the Dunsandel residents for the parcels that were forwarded as Christmas gifts.
Private D. Balloch, who so appreciated the gift of handkerchiefs from the school children, forwarded about 60 post card views of England, each containing the date and autograph of the sender.
They were distributed to the school children.
A concert followed with piano solos, Miss Reid and Mr Charlie Hansen ; songs were sung by Mesdames Gibson and Delargey and Messrs W. Owers and F. Hemmings.
At the close of the programme the soldiers were each presented with the usual mementoes, and Nancy Reid handed the handkerchiefs from the school children to the soldiers.
George Sheat delivered a short address. Supper was handed round by the ladies and after singing a verse of the National Anthem the hall was cleared for dancing, the musicians being Miss Chappell and Messrs W. Chappell and C Hansen. The dance concluded with Auld Lang Syne.
The first welcome home for 1917 in the hall occurred in the middle of the same month when Private. T.A. John, who had arrived home on the hospital ship Marama, met a large gathering assembled to do him honour [2].
Songs were sung by Miss Henderson, and Messrs Owers and Hemmings and a Maori song was sung by Mr Parekura Haronga, who received great applause. Recitations were given by Miss L. Hill, Messrs Pratt and H. F. Wright and a piano solo by Mr C. Hansen. Mrs Delargey and Miss F. Henderson played the accompaniments.
At the close of the programme the chairman, the Rev. Reid, presented Private John, on behalf of the residents, with the first set of military hair brushes.
Private John, in a few well-chosen words, thanked the people for their welcome and their gift, Mr A. John also spoke, thanking the residents on behalf of his wife and himself, for the way in which Dunsandel people had welcomed home their son.
After supper was handed round the evening was brought to a close by the singing of the National Anthem.
A combined send-off and welcome home social was held in the hall at the end of May [3]. The soldier leaving was Corporal James Gemmell, eldest son of Mr and Mrs Robert Gemmell, and the soldier who has returned is Sergeant W. O'Brien, a member of the main body.
The hall as usual was packed and the programme was one of the best yet presented at a social of its kind in Dunsandel.
The performers were Mrs Coe and Misses Packer, Chamberlain, and Bremnen and Messrs P. Chamberlain and F. Hemmings.
Gifts were presented and after supper the hall was cleared and a dance was held.
A further farewell [4] was held in mid-July for Private T. Archer, who was horse trainer to Mr P. Delargey.
There was the usual large attendance to wish the soldier goodbye and a safe return.
Items were given by Miss Jean Smith, Mrs Delargey and Messrs C. Hansen and W. Owers.
Addresses were given by the chairman (Rev. J. Swanson Reid) and Messrs G. Sheat and J.S. Boag. After supper the evening concluded with the singing of Auld Lang Syne.
The hall [5,6] was packed with people from all parts of the district on Friday evening (5 October) to welcome home three returned soldiers— Privates J. Boyd, C. Upston, and J. LitItlewood who went away with the 14th Reinforcements and who have been invalided home.
On behalf of the residents, the Rev. J.S. Reid presented the guests with the usual gift.
A good programme was presented by the following performers : —Mesdames J. Coe, E. Whisker and Carter, Miss Owers and Messrs F, Lill, F. Hemmings and W, Owers, the accompanists being Miss Chamberlain and Mesdames Delargey and Coe.
Mike Noonan
Dunsandel Historic Society
Date1917SourcePapers PastLocationDunsandel
Description1917 was again a busy year for the Send-off Committee. Not only were there farewells but there were also some soldiers to be welcomed home.
Unfortunately all the soldiers that arrived back in Dunsandel in 1917 had been wounded.
Farewells in 1917 in the Dunsandel Hall began in March with a large attendance at a farewell [1] to Privates W. Skinner and W. McKenzie.
Before proceeding with the programme the Rev. Reid, read the honours list of the 56 soldiers who had left Dunsandel.
Letters had been received during the week from soldiers at the front and most of them contained words of appreciation to the Dunsandel residents for the parcels that were forwarded as Christmas gifts.
Private D. Balloch, who so appreciated the gift of handkerchiefs from the school children, forwarded about 60 post card views of England, each containing the date and autograph of the sender.
They were distributed to the school children.
A concert followed with piano solos, Miss Reid and Mr Charlie Hansen ; songs were sung by Mesdames Gibson and Delargey and Messrs W. Owers and F. Hemmings.
At the close of the programme the soldiers were each presented with the usual mementoes, and Nancy Reid handed the handkerchiefs from the school children to the soldiers.
George Sheat delivered a short address. Supper was handed round by the ladies and after singing a verse of the National Anthem the hall was cleared for dancing, the musicians being Miss Chappell and Messrs W. Chappell and C Hansen. The dance concluded with Auld Lang Syne.
The first welcome home for 1917 in the hall occurred in the middle of the same month when Private. T.A. John, who had arrived home on the hospital ship Marama, met a large gathering assembled to do him honour [2].
Songs were sung by Miss Henderson, and Messrs Owers and Hemmings and a Maori song was sung by Mr Parekura Haronga, who received great applause. Recitations were given by Miss L. Hill, Messrs Pratt and H. F. Wright and a piano solo by Mr C. Hansen. Mrs Delargey and Miss F. Henderson played the accompaniments.
At the close of the programme the chairman, the Rev. Reid, presented Private John, on behalf of the residents, with the first set of military hair brushes.
Private John, in a few well-chosen words, thanked the people for their welcome and their gift, Mr A. John also spoke, thanking the residents on behalf of his wife and himself, for the way in which Dunsandel people had welcomed home their son.
After supper was handed round the evening was brought to a close by the singing of the National Anthem.
A combined send-off and welcome home social was held in the hall at the end of May [3]. The soldier leaving was Corporal James Gemmell, eldest son of Mr and Mrs Robert Gemmell, and the soldier who has returned is Sergeant W. O'Brien, a member of the main body.
The hall as usual was packed and the programme was one of the best yet presented at a social of its kind in Dunsandel.
The performers were Mrs Coe and Misses Packer, Chamberlain, and Bremnen and Messrs P. Chamberlain and F. Hemmings.
Gifts were presented and after supper the hall was cleared and a dance was held.
A further farewell [4] was held in mid-July for Private T. Archer, who was horse trainer to Mr P. Delargey.
There was the usual large attendance to wish the soldier goodbye and a safe return.
Items were given by Miss Jean Smith, Mrs Delargey and Messrs C. Hansen and W. Owers.
Addresses were given by the chairman (Rev. J. Swanson Reid) and Messrs G. Sheat and J.S. Boag. After supper the evening concluded with the singing of Auld Lang Syne.
The hall [5,6] was packed with people from all parts of the district on Friday evening (5 October) to welcome home three returned soldiers— Privates J. Boyd, C. Upston, and J. LitItlewood who went away with the 14th Reinforcements and who have been invalided home.
On behalf of the residents, the Rev. J.S. Reid presented the guests with the usual gift.
A good programme was presented by the following performers : —Mesdames J. Coe, E. Whisker and Carter, Miss Owers and Messrs F, Lill, F. Hemmings and W, Owers, the accompanists being Miss Chamberlain and Mesdames Delargey and Coe.
Mike Noonan
Dunsandel Historic Society
Date1917SourcePapers PastLocationDunsandelConnections
CollectionThe Patrons of the First Dunsandel Hall/LibraryPlaceTe Atatiki a Te Wakaaro DunsandelOrganisationDunsandel Historic SocietyMore Information[1][2][3][4][5][6]
PlaceTe Atatiki a Te Wakaaro DunsandelOrganisationDunsandel Historic SocietyMore Information[1][2][3][4][5][6]Attribution
Researched ByMIke NoonanWritten ByMike Noonan
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Dunsandel farewells and welcomes to WW1 Soldiers in the first Dunsandel Hall/Library 1917 (1917). Selwyn Stories, accessed 16/01/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/5536
