DESPATCH

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 202, 21 August 1940, Page 7

DESPATCH

; From the Official War Correspondent attached to the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. "Boots and all," slangy but expressive, is to be the fighting motto of the sth New Zealand Inl'anl.ry Brigade. The method of its selection was perhaps not strictly in accord with the War Office way of doing such things, but the phrase has caught the imagination of all ranks, and was, moreover, lifted straight, out of a speech, by the Brigadier. When returning thanks for the message of welcome received aboard ship from His Majesty the King, Brigadier J. Hargest aslted that with the thanks there should be conveyed to His Majesty an assurance of the troops' devoted loyalty and of their eagerness to c.omo to ] grips with the enemy as soon as they were sufficiently trained. The sooner the better in their view, and then they would be into it —if he might use a colonialism, said the Brigadier—boots and all, It greatly pleased the boys to find one of the more responsible London newspapers seizing upon this phrase to epitomise tlieir spirit and determination, the more so when the frontier papers were play ing up the "luxury cruise" aspect of our voyage. For the time being - we have done with luxury. There is a. stern work ahead, and hard • preparation needed. So "Boots and f all" it is to be from now until the 7 I job is done.