GENERAL GODLEY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 290, 3 September 1919, Page 8

GENERAL GODLEY

FAREWELL TO N.Z.E.F.

FULL TEXT OP MESSAGE The fall text of Lieu tenant-General Sir Alexander Godtey's farewell inos=age to the New Ze'atend Expeditionary Force, a brief summary of which appeared in a recent cablegram, as follows-.— . "As the demobilisation of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, now nearly complete, will automatically terminate my command, I, take this opportunity to bid you farewell. It has been a great privilege-a privilege I have most fully appreciated—to liave not only raised and brought from New Zealand such a force, but to have had the honour of holding the command of it throughout tho wholo liorlod of the- war. Mitch to my regret, the exigencies of the service have', frequently, and at timee for long periods, withdrawn' formations and units of the Now Zealand Expeditionary Force from my command in thft field. Some, like the division and Mounted Brigade, ha-yo served under many commanders and in many areas, and'all have served under at least one commander other than myself. '

"In Gallipoli, Egypt, Sinai, Palestine, France, Belgium, and tho United Kingdom, you have taken your full share of the burden and stress- of. this war, and you have earned, I believe without exception, the highest regard of 'all those /under whom and with whom you have served. You will leave behind you a reputation for discipline, fighting qualities, steadiness, resource, initiative, hard work, and genliemanlly conduct, of which both you and New Zealand have- every reason to be proud. All those who have in any way contributed to this reputation by their conduct), whether in the front line, the lines of. communication, in a teso svinip, or in whatever capacity tho need.? ol' tie service have placed them, will pleaso accept ray most grateful tlianks". in particular I- desire to place on record the great indebtedness due by me and by all those concerned in tho welfare of the New Zealand lixpeditionary Foroe to Major-General Sir Andrew. EusseLl, E.C.8., K.C.M.G., JMnjor-General Sir Kdward Chaytor, K.C.M.G., C.8., T..8., A.D.C., and Brigadier-General G. S. Richardson, C.8., C.M.G.,'.0.8.E., for ' their loyal- co-operation, continuous hard work and great capacity for leadership and organisation. To the* Now Zealand Defence Department, and> the Headquarter? and Military Districts of the New Zealand Military Forces in New Zealand, we owe a deep, debt ot gratitude. The unvarying support-and unceasing help eiven us by Colonel The Honourable Sir James . Allen, K.C.8., T.D.. M P., and by Major-General Sir Alfred Eobin, K.C.M.G.. C.8.. T.D., who have hem, respectively, Minister of Defence and General Officer Commanding the' New Zealand Military Forces, throughout the whole period of the war, have been of the greatest possiblo value to us, and have contributed largely-to the success attained'by the force. I also desire to 'express, both on my own and on your behalf,' our nearly thanks to all thoso officers lent to us by the British Army; the fact that we have been able, in a steadily-increasing degree, to replace them by New Zealand officers capable of carrying out their duties, is the best possible proof of the disinterested success and' value of their woilc.

"Though the New Zealand Expeditionary Force lias' not Buffered out of proportion to the other forces engaged, the cost of our victory in the loss of valuable, lives—the'greatest evil incidental to. all wars-lias tan heavy. - My sympathy Koe3 out to .all those of you who are returning to your homes permanently disabled. I rejoice, however, to inow that not only will the usual compensation be given in the way of pensions, but that the New Zealand Government propose to do all in their powor b£ education and other means to enable you to carry on. t.eefnl work in the future, in spite of your disabilities. Still moro do I sympathise with the relatives of thoso who will never return. Jfay they bo comforted by the thought of the greatness of. the cause for which they died, namely, the very existence of tho British Empire and'of New Zealand as ,i free country within that Empire. May'they ako.be comforted by the knowledge of tho fact that it was tho thought of 'the supremo sacrifice made by their comrades and relatives," and the belief that the acceptance of anything short, of complete victor.-? would be treason to their memory, that did more than anything elee to steel the hearts of both onr soldiers and civili-ans-to the long-sustained effort and patient nndurance that eventually won through. ■i'ln the record of your service in this war .you have given tho New Zealand Cifieen Army the* best of all possible foundations—tho traditions of sacrifice and success. I trn§t no effort will bo spared to utiilfise to the utmost extent this dearly bought tradition, and that the' name of every soldier who has foug'ht in this war will in some way be associated with a specific New Zealand Territorial unit, and that his services wil', be reßorded in' that unit's regimental history. I hope that many of you will continue to' take an active part in the work of the New Zealand Military Forces. Your experience of actual warfare has taught you the true .meaning and supreme value of discipline; your co-operation, therefore, will be invaluable. "It' is claimed by. sohs tbat w;iv service justifies a subsequent life of ease and tho "making of many' demands on the'rest of the community. That no exmembor of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force will bo. found to re-echo eo unworthy a sentiment'l feel 'confident.' I trust, rather, that the spirit of service and self-sacrifice so consmcuously shown throughout tlie war will be carried on into civil life, and that all will ojideavour to do their Ml share in making pood the leeway, and in bearing the burdens earned by tho war. "My four years as General Officer Commanding tho Forces in New Zealand, and still more my nearly five years' experience as General Officer Commanding the 'New Zealand Expeditionary Force, has specially impressed me with tho natural capacity of the New Zealander. New Zealand, I am. convinced, i? able mid is destined to play & part in the world out of all nroporhon to her size and population. That ench a destiny may be hers, and that you may all return in safety to your homes and may live long in lianpiness and prosperity in your srreatly favoured oountry, is the sincere wish of '"(Sgd.) ALEX. J. GODLEY, "Lieut.-Gonoral, "Commanding New Zealand Expeditionary Force," I