The landing at Gallipoli and the subsequent battles to establish a footing on the peninsular in April 1915 incurred many casualties for the invading Mediterranean Expeditionary Force of 70,000, commanded by General Sir Ian Hamilton. Making up a significant part of this force were the Australians and New Zealanders who were united as the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC). Getting treatment for the wounded was a major problem, and ships lying off shore were soon crowded. A continuing shuttle of vessels back and forth to Alexandria and Malta was the only way of easing the situation. Many were taken to Britain, and those who could travel further were taken home to Australia or New Zealand.
The first ship to arrive back in New Zealand with invalids was the Willochra which berthed at Wellington on July 12, 1915. On board were Corporal John Rowe, Lance- Corporal Jack Hodge and Private Jim Archer from Wanganui, as well as Corporal Claude Fitzwater (Patea), Private George Muldrock (Waverley) and Private Herbert Way (Marton). These men were part of what would be, over the following four years, a steady stream of patients coming back to New Zealand for treatment and recuperation.
To help the returning soldiers adjust back into civilian life after the trauma of warfare, local Patriotic Societies, set up to raise and disburse funds for the many and various causes brought about by the conflict, were of a great help. They were able to provide comforts, assist in getting employment and help with donations. But one important issue they could not handle was an understanding of the mental stress suffered by many of the returned soldiers, and it soon became evident that the soldiers themselves needed an organisation of their own to handle these issues.
By the end of the year there were enough returned men in Wanganui to justify the formation of a club and a meeting was called by the Patriotic Society on January 21, 1916, inviting returned soldiers to meet and discuss the matter. Thirty of them responded and the decision was made to establish a club along the lines of the one set up in Wellington a week before. The sub-committee formed was quickly into action for within a few days it had negotiated a 12 month lease on a building in Taupo Quay. This building of two floors was known as Balmoral House, previously a boarding establishment, and was next to Johnston & Coy.
By the middle of February Balmoral House, after renovation, was ready for occupation. Much of the material and labour had been provided free and the public donated much of the furniture and fittings. At a grand opening on Saturday, February 19 before a good attendance of soldiers and a large gathering of public, with musical entertainment by O'Hara's orchestra, deputy Mayor George Spriggens opened proceedings. After formal speeches he invited Mrs Mackay, the Mayoress, to declare the building open and hand over the keys to Lieutenant Aldridge, the spokesman for the returned men. The club was well set up as a comfortable place to meet, and the soldiers were quick to take advantage. A few days later they held a meeting to elect a provisional committee consistingg of Messrs Keesing and Talboys (Patriotic Committee) and Lieutenant Aldridge, Sapper Hatherley and Corporals Lynch and Cunningham (Returned Soldiers) with Private Bowman, Secretary (pro tem), to draw up rules and regulations for the new club.
But the drawing up of this constitution was not pursued with any urgency and it became obvious in early May that the soldiers were wanting action and went public with their discontent at the length of time it was taking.
During this hiatus the club rooms were in constant use as a meeting place for returned soldiers where they were able to relax, spend time reading or playing snooker on the table that had been installed in early March, and generally assimilate back into a peaceful society. Socials were held regularly and the one in late March, by the ladies of the patriotic movement, was voted the best ever. A suggestion was made by the Wellington and suburban mayors to the Prime Minister that a half-holiday be declared to commemorate the ANZAC landing at Gallipoli. This was approved and in Wanganui a large parade was held, organised by the Borough Council and the Patriotic Committee. At the end of April delegates of Returned Soldiers Clubs around the country met in Wellington and resolved to form the Returned Soldiers Association which would assist with the formation of branches. On May 10 a notice appeared in the Wanganui Herald that a general meeting of soldiers would be held that evening to appoint a permanent management committee and officials - signed by GH Hattersley, Secretary. This was the first sign in over two months that the soldiers' organisation was starting to materialise. There were no reports of this meeting but two weeks later a long letter from Lieutenant Aldridge appeared in the local papers, indicating a serious breakdown in negotiations with the Patriotic Committee.
Lieutenant Aldridge began by outlining events leading up to opening of the new clubrooms - there were no rules at that time. A sub-committee from the Patriotic Society consisting of TB Williams (Chairman), CE Mackay (Mayor), Colonel Hughes, Major Harper and Messrs Veitch (MP), Ball, Meuli, Webb-Jones and Spriggens met with the soldiers to discuss the formation of a club for them. At this meeting the sub-committee stated that they should retain management of the club, to which the soldiers objected as they felt they were competent to manage it themselves. Lieutenant Aldridge continued: "The Mayor then suggested a compromise of a committee consisting of the President, Vice-President and three members elected by the soldiers and three trustees of the Mayor, Town Clerk and Chairman of the Patriotic Society to which all agreed. It was also unanimously agreed that the Mayor and myself draw up a set of rules to carry the agreement into effect. With some changes the rules were approved by the Patriotic Committee. With this in mind a meeting of soldiers was called to put these rules into effect but at that meeting Messrs Ball and Radford appeared as delegates of the Patriotic Committee and stated that as the Patriotic Committee was still considering the rules asked that the meeting be adjourned for three weeks. A clause prohibiting liquor being brought into the club was wanted by the Patriotic Committee. What happened at the Patriotic Committee meeting (held in committee) I don't know. Last Wednesday (24th) I was asked to meet another set of members (the third) headed by Mr L Cohen, but without the Chairman, Mayor and Colonel Hughes, and was told that Patriotic Committee felt they should control the club and had drawn up a new set of rules. The new committee of the club would consist of members elected by the Patriotic Committee and not more than three elected by the soldiers - not even allowed to elect our own president. We could not understand why the Patriotic Committee went back on our agreement, all of their meetings have been in committee and some of their members feel that we are not fit to run the club. I intend to convene a meeting of soldiers next Wednesday to consider the position and don't know whether the Patriotic Committee wish to send down their fourth deputation but as they have never invited us to their meetings our meeting is for soldiers only, except that the Mayor will be invited to preside.
(Signed) WP Aldridge Lt, President, Soldiers Club Committee
P.S. The deputation from the Patriotic Committee on Wednesday night promised a set of new rules but as yet I have been unable to get a copy."
Three days after this letter was published the following appeared in the Public Notices.
Returned Soldiers
The adjourned meeting of the Returned Soldiers will
Be held at the club on Wednesday 31 May at 7.30pm.
Business - To adopt rules and appoint officials
GE Hatherley, Sec. Returned Soldiers Club.
A report on this meeting, chaired by the Mayor Mr Mackay, appeared a couple of days later in the local papers and gave a detailed account of proceedings. Mr Mackay told the soldiers that the Patriotic Committee had their interests and well-being at heart and were determined to do all they could to assist them but also admitted that in the past they had not maintained as close a contact as they might and were anxious to remedy that. The rules drawn up by the Patriotic Committee were discussed and agreed to with some minor amendments and the inclusion of a new rule restricting gambling and bringing alcohol into the club. The election of officers saw Lieutenant Aldridge elected President, Trooper Moore Vice President and Quarter-Master Sergeant King, Corporal Rowe and Gunner Lynch as the committee. The auditors were Messrs Dunkley & Silk. The current Secretary and Caretaker were asked to continue until permanent appointments could be made.
With the settling of differences the soldiers found their way clear to get on with the business of running their club. At their June meeting they appointed Charlie Booth as the new custodian at two pounds a week and authorised the employment of a charwoman to work between 7am and 11am twice a week to do the necessary scrubbing and cleaning. Also with the resignation of Mr Hatherley, John Rowe was appointed Secretary, without salary, and Thursdays were designated visiting days.
If the Wanganui soldiers had experienced difficulties in running their own club they were not alone. In Wellington there had been a similar situation with friction between the Patriotic Committee and the soldiers concerning trusteeship of the club. Differences were settled with the soldiers gaining the representation they demanded which allowed them to run their own affairs, attending to the needs of returned soldiers.
Who were these founders of the Returned Soldiers Club in Wanganui?
William Peachy Aldridge was a telegraphist in the Post & Telegraph office in Wanganui at the time of enlistment. He went away with the Wellington Infantry Battalion in the 3rd Reinforcements and fought at Gallipoli. He was wounded in June 1915 and invalided back to New Zealand, arriving in Wellington on September 11.
Alfred Cecil Bowman was a linotype operator with the Wanganui Herald and went away with the Wellington Infantry Battalion in the Main Body, landing at Gallipoli on April 25, 1915. He was wounded in the battle of Chunuk Bair on August 8 and arrived back in New Zealand on February 4, 1916.
George Edward Hatherley was a farmer in Wanganui who served with the Field Engineers and went away in the Main Body to Gallipoli. He was invalided home arriving Wellington on September 11, 1915.
Charles David Lynch was a clerk in Wanganui and was posted to Headquarters Staff with the Main Body at Gallipoli. He was invalided back to New Zealand, arriving in Wanganui on November 2, 1915.
John Barr Rowe was a salesman with Sargood & Ewan in Wanganui and joined the Wellington Infantry Battalion of the Main Body at Gallipoli, being wounded on April 28, three days after landing. He was on the first ship back to New Zealand, arriving on July 12, 1915.
Charlie Booth was a barman at the Halcombe Hotel but enlisted at Wanganui when his employer moved here. He was in the 1st Reinforcements with the Wellington Infantry Battalion landing at Gallipoli. He was wounded at the "Daisy Patch" on May 8 and came home on the HS Tahiti, arriving in Wellington on September 11.
Gordon Heriot Cunningham was a farmer at Turakina and was posted to the Otago Infantry Battalion, Main Body, and landed at Gallipoli. He was invalided home, arriving on September 11.
