Piece of Plate Presented to Mr. E. S. Wilkinson At Divisions on Tuesday (Nov. 20) on HAMS. Kent, Admiral Sir Frederic Dreyer, Commander-in-Chief of th British China Fleet, had by his sloe two guests, Mr. and Mrs, ES. Wile kinson. After prayers had been said by the Chaplain the Admiral addressed the company assembled and) Informed them that he had lately reported to the Lords Commissioners, of the Admiralty telling them of th splendid. work. which Mr.
Wilkinson had done in keeping the Union Jack Club running for the benefit of petty oticers and men the senior' service, and the junior: services as well, during their stay in Shanghai.
The Admiral's report pald tribute to the unbounded energy and of thusiasm displayed by Mr. Willinso in this task, and be intimated thi Sir John Brenan, who was unavold ably absent owing to pressure official business, had, as Presiden' of the Union Jack Club, warmly endorsed everything that had been said about Mr. Wilkinson's service.
the Navy. The Admiral, referred also to the generous support giver to the Club by the Shanghai Race Club, Mr, Wilkinson had shouldered the task i no casual spirit. He wax known personally to a large number of the men who wed the Unior Jack Club because of his regula: attendance there end his constant endeavour to keep in touch with the Club and the amenities which provided.
Admiralty's Recognition The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty had expressed their grati. fection at this evidence of regard for the Navy, of Interest in the welfare of the petty officers and men. snd of good citizenship. They had] authorized the Admiral to convey this sense of their gratitude to Mr. Wilkinson and, moreover, to ask him to accept the presentation of a piece of plate in recognition of his ser-
The Admiral then handed to Mr.
Wilkinson a beautiful silver. salver
tion:
which was the following snserip.
Presented to B.S. Wauxmeson, Bsa, "The Honorary Secretary and Treasurer of the Shanghai Branch of the Navy League By the Lorde Commissioners of the Admiralty, "In Recognition of the Valuable Services he hat Rendered the Personnel of H.M. Navy in his Con-ection with "the Union" Jack Club, Shanghai.
The applause which followed was not merely that of a perfunctory response to high authority's command Tt was evident from the general friendliness displayed by all the men resent that the honour done to Mr. Wilkinson was in a real sense their own personal gesture to him.
Mr. Wilkinson's Reply Mr, Wilkinson's reply was brief and modest. He deprecated the Admiral's use of the term: "labour" in describing his connection with the Union Jack Club. It had. been one his "hobbies. From. the _hymn (Pleasant are 'Thy courts. above") which had' been sung at prayers, he fudged that the Chaplain was aware of some of his other hobbies, for!
seemed that the second verse bad touched Ughtly "on bird, lit. HMS. Kent's famous steed—doubt-Jess an authority on hobby-horses—wes unmoved by this allusion. Pei-' haps naval discipline prevented it "NaC, Herald Photo,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.