GALLIPOLI STAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 64, 8 December 1917, Page 7

GALLIPOLI STAR

In connection with the proposed issue of a Gallipoli Star to a. restricted group of men who fought at Gallipoli, and the protest of various returned soldiers' associations upon this matter, Mr. Seymour, general secretary, New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association, stated yesterday that it was very difficult to find any sound reasons upon which the action of the authorities could havo been determined. Doubtless good reasons in the yiew of tho authority responsible did exist, but he thought "that possibly they hardly realised the situation as it was known to tho'New Zealand soldier. If tho Army Council proposed to authorise a medal'for those who embarked in 1914, or for those who fought at Gallipoli, little exception could he taken to .such a course, but the proposal to issue a star which would cover both cases had the effect of confining the honour to a section only of those who fought at Gallipoli, many of whom arrived on the scene much later than others who fought from the landing onwards. The position would be very similar if a special bar was given for the men who fought at Messines, but only to those of them who embarked from New Zealand by the end of 1916. In Mr. Seymour's opinion there were ample grounds for the objections which had been urged by various returned soldiers' associations, and which appeared to be such as to stultify the proposal.