GENERAL BIRDWOOD

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 81, 31 December 1919, Page 8

GENERAL BIRDWOOD

ARRIVAL AT FREMANTLE

SOLDIERS',GREAT WELCOME

When the Orient steamer Ormonde, with General Sir William Birdwood and otter distinguished officer* of the A.1.l' 1 ., cii.ino belau.dly alongside Ereinantlo wharf on Friday morning (December 20), the enthusiasm, of the welcome was almost overpowering (states the Melbourne "Aeo"). 'i no Returned Soldiers' Association. had uulertnken the reception, and its memlters thronged tho wharf, and cheered the Australian commniuler-in-cliirf to (lie uttermost. The Premier, Senator Pea tee, gubernatorial and military magnates wero there, but the overpowering feature of the reception, quite independent of political representation, and the Garrison Artillery guards of honour, was tho soldiers' transcendent welcome. When energetic assmilts on wharf entanglements, continuously sustained. gave access to the Ormonde, General, Eirdwood courteously announced that he. yoald give no Press interviews, and make no statements, except in the /•hiwe of speeches on the public platforms. General Birdwood, who was accompanied by Lieuicnant-General Sir Joliu Monash and Colonel Murray, V.C, of W<-stern-'Australia, was greeted on emergine from the wharf sheds by a great number of fervent admirers who had served under him. He responded as follows:— "General Monash, old Diggers, comrades an.l friends, I don't think I need tell you—vou already know it—how delighted 1 uni that the first welcome I am honoured bv receiving in Australia, after that of the Minister of Defence on behalf of the Commonwealth, should bs from vou. my old comrades. "It is practically five years to "a.day that we liave all been sowing together. Ivam no more likelv to forget the early days with you in Egypt than the days which wo liavo passed ioiether since then to, tho end. No one. knows better than I the bravery and staunchness you have shown during these long years—how vou stuck if. out in 'he face of everything, raising the name of Australia to the highest pinnacle. Tt is satisfaction indeed. Wo are all at last home aglin, having accomplished our object. I wonder if any have contemplated what failure would have meant German domination over, our country, almost a state of slavery, for ourselves, 'our women and our children, and the subjugation of those principles wo hold dearer than life. _ Let us thin'c God that tho danger is behind us« wo hone; for ever. Also never forcet those magnificent men. the best and bravest. , who ; gnvo their lives so willingly for the cause in which we fought. -May their memory ever bo great and honoured' among us. And now, boys, we are at home. I know you all have realised more than ever thai? Australia is a country worth liv:'ng for, equally, you proved it, worth dying for. But Wie game is by no means over, and in making Australia worth .living for there is still much work to be done by every single individual. Having proved yourselves such magnificent soldiers and loyal comrades in war, I am convinced that you mean to prove yourselves equally good citizens in peace, working in the common cause—the hest interests of your country and the wellfceing of your fellow citizens—upholding the' laws, and loyal to whatever Government is elected by the people. Before leaving Western Australia I, sincerely hope to have an opportunity of meeting you all again, and seeing something of your mothers, wives, and sisters, and thanking them for all they have done to help win this war. God bless you all.". , After a triumphal procession from the wharf, the special feature was a car propelled b.v timber cutters in honour of Licnt.-Colonel, Murray, V.C., who left Western Australia as a private, General Birdwood motored, to Frcmantlo Town Hall. , ' 1 v His Message to the "Boys." At nis Majesty's Theatre, Perth, Genornl Birjdwood received with a big burst of Mithusinsm, the audience consisting mainly of returned poldiers. Mr. Bolton, president of tho' E.S.A., who presided, declared, amidst great applause, that the members of tho association wore out to give the wannest cf welcomes to "tho boss digger."/ Mr. Henderson, secretary of (lie E.S.A., said the association was the largest and 'most loyal organisation in Australia. General Birdwood, who hod a rousing reception, said ho was both honoured and nleased bv this welcome to Australia. Ho had already rcturm'd thanks for tlie ]?.S.A. welcome at I'i-emnntie. and _ was/ at a loss to further express his feelinjrs. Ho.knew what they had gone through. There was not a man who would ever forget the years or months spent with hi.* uirt on service." There had been times of extreme difficulty and danger, but he believed the majority of the men vpuld look-book gladly on those days Hecause they "had made real men of so nr"v of us." (Applai'-e. "Having thus served together," continual General Birdwood, "and having realised true, fomradeship and nil that ] it meant, vou everyone of yr.u. will know tho value of pulling together , and the spirit of .absolute loyalty which permeated the A.I.l 7 . But for th's spirit, «>/, strong throughout the whole of (ho troops of the Brit'sh Umpire, we could never have won. tho war, but there was another very, necessary spirit of individuality and initiative which was prominent among our troons—officers, non-commiss-'oned offievrs and men. That is the .spirit to which Australia from the' first owes sb much of her greatness. It is tho spirit of those first pioneers from England, full of enterprise, the best and adventurous of English blond,whose descendants have carved out Ihe fortuilo of Australia. It is by indii vidualitv and initiative, combined with unity of effort and purpose, that v.o shall attain what is requisite for tho welfare of your great country. The A.1.1?, winildj,'never have achieved its splendid record of fighting but for this spirit of all "working in union for one common cause./ I am sure you have appreciated vnur time in Ihe OVthis war has done nothing else it has given tens of thousands of u.r boys the opportunity of seeing tho country of their fathers and grandfathers, n eeting many previously unknown relatives,' and realising tho real aft'eet.on that th'fc people of the Old Country navo for us out here, (Applause.) Boys, if I may give you a last message fro-.i myself;'it is this: Remember that the essential point is to uphold the great and magnificent record which you have established in tliA A.l.l''. in whatever branch of ciVil life you now occupy, for it is by that spirit that Australia wll go ahead and keep ahead. Remember, you have equal responsibilities and ambitions in upholding the position of tl'.e citizen as vou had in gaining fame as a soldier. You were,then prepared for uny sacrifice, for any personal loss, jven to'that of life. lam sure you arc now equally ready to prove not only_ that your wealth of ' national spirit rnd strength of character aro b.v no means exhausted, but that your metal rings puro throughout, and that you arc determined to do your full share in taking up again the works of peace. That is'a duty which our country still <>- mauds of us, and I know that you wil) never fail to shoulder it without hesitation." (Cheers.)