Country: New Zealand
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 03/07/1902
Number issued: 3
Gold lockets & alberts, suitably inscribed, to:
7th New Zealand Mounted Rifles –
4309 Trooper George KLEE
4630 Trooper Louis KLEE
4631 Trooper Victor KLEE
Presentation made by Mr Davidson, in the Good Templar's Hall, Waitati.
_________________________________
Otago Witness, 16th July 1902
WAITATI.
Social to Returned Troopers. — On the evening of Thursday, 3rd inst., a hearty welcome was accorded to the Messrs KLEE — three brothers who have just got back from South Africa. The Good Templars' Hall was beautifully decorated with ferns, and with pictures of the various British generals draped with flags. The building was crowded to excess, people coming from far and wide to do honour to the brave lads whom they had known from boyhood. Mr Kilpatrick was chairman, and with him on the platform were the Rev. A. Finlayson, Messrs Davidson, Klee (senior), and the three troopers. After an introductory speech by the chairman, the Misses N. and W. Colehan played a duet in their usual pleasing style. Next came a recitation by Miss Farquharson, entitled "The Ballad of Splendid Silence", which was much appreciated. Then followed a speech by Mr W. Davidson, of Mornington (formerly headmaster of the Waitati Public School). Mr Davidson said that he was very pleased to have been invited to take part on this occasion, as the Messrs KLEE had been pupils of his. He was not surprised to hear that they had gone to the front, because when at school there never was a fight or disturbance of any kind but the KLEE brothers were sure to be in the thick of it! Mr Davidson then presented each of the troopers with a gold albert and locket suitably inscribed. The troopers were too much overcome to make elaborate speeches, but they showed plainly that they were grateful to their friends for giving them such a hearty reception. They had been in many "tight" places, but had never felt so cornered before. The musical programme was then continued. Miss Drury played "Alice", a solo (piano); and Miss Ferguson sang "Thy voice is near". Comic songs were sung by Messrs Pettit and Easton. The hall was then cleared for dancing, Mr and Miss Wilson supplying the music. The supper was provided by the ladies of the district, and justice was done to the varied assortment of dainties which had been contributed. Altogether, the social was a great success, and it was right that it should be so, as the three troopers are the sons of a very old Waitati resident. Mr KLEE is a Frenchman, and is well known in this district, his five sons having received their early education at the Waitati School. The youngest son, Alexander, won a scholarship and attended the Port Chalmers District High School. After winning the dux medal there, he went to the Otago Boys' High School, and, having passed the Civil Service Examination, received an appointment at Oamaru, and since then he has been transferred to Cromwell. After leaving school Louis, Victor, and George went to the North Island. There they separated, and did not meet again until they met in the camp of the Seventh Contingent. All three troopers had many interesting adventures to relate, Victor taking an active part in the Bothasberg incident. Wonderful to tell, notwithstanding their hairbreadth escapes, the trio came through it all without a scratch. On their return from South Africa, the troopers came back to their old home in Waitati to see their father and sister (Mrs McGill). who had hardly dared to expect the return of all three.
EMBARKATION DATABASE
Surname: KLEE
Reg No: 4309
Given Names: George
Contingent: Seventh
Rank: Private
Unit: No 23 Company (Nelson Section)
Joined from: none
County/City: Waikouaiti
Age: 21 years, 6 months
Occupation: Blacksmith
Ship: “Gulf of Tananto”, 6 April 1901
Address: Waitati, Dunedin
Next of Kin: Klee, Mr Victor
Next of Kin Address: Waitati, Dunedin (same)
Relationship to Soldier: father
Surname: KLEE
Reg No: 4630
Given Names: Louis
Contingent: Seventh
Rank: Private
Unit: No 23 Company (Supplementary Section)
Joined from: none
County/City: Patangata
Age: 26 years, 10 months
Occupation: Labourer
Ship: “Gulf of Tananto”, 6 April 1901
Address: Post Office, Herbertville
Next of Kin: Klee, Mr Victor
Next of Kin Address: 26 Grange Street, Dunedin
Relationship to Soldier: father
Surname: KLEE
Reg No: 4631
Given Names: Victor
Contingent: Seventh
Rank: Private
Unit: No 23 Company (Supplementary Section)
Joined from: none
County/City: Wellington
Age: 23 years, 1 month
Occupation: Station Hand
Ship: “Gulf of Tananto”, 6 April 1901
Address: Post Office, Wellington
Next of Kin: Klee, Mr Victor
Next of Kin Address: 26 Grange Street, Dunedin (same)
Relationship to Soldier: father
