NEW MAIN BODY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20058, 3 October 1939, Page 4

NEW MAIN BODY

CHEERFUL FAREWELL , TROOPS START FOR CAMP EARLY-MORNING CROWDS PUBLIC MEN’S PLEDGES Scenes of enthusiasm reminiscent of the war days of 25 years ago were witnessed at the Abercorn Hall early this morning, when the public of Gisborne was represented by a crowd estimated to run well over 1000 at a farewell to the men from this district who will help to form the new main body of the Special New Zealand Military Force.

Though there was some criticism of the travelling arrangements made for the troops, which necessitated their leaving Gisborne between 2 and 3 a.in., there was also an evident determination that the draft should carry away happy memories of their townspeople. Music, singing and cheering were almost continuous, and there was a degree of camaraderie in the large crowd such as is seldom seen here.

Comprising 60 young men chosen for their excellent physical condition, the detachment bound for Trentham and Burnham certainly did credit to the district in appearance. Though one or two were rather below the average in height, the general standard of physique was notably good, and those who took part in the farewell proceedings warmly endorsed the opinion that they will do credit to their district in any circumstances. First Roll-Call Answered Mustered in the Abercorn Hall, which was filled long before the hour fixed for the departure of the detachment, the main body men answered their first roll-call in their character of recruits to the military force. A few were in uniform, these being men who had been serving with territorial units, but all looked smart and fit, and obviously they felt the keenest satisfaction in having gained selection for the first draft.

After the personnel of the party had been checked and had been handed over by Lieutenant R. H. Perrett, area officer, to the conducting officer, Lieutenant J. T. Thompson, the gathering was addressed by the member for the district, Mr. D. W. Coleman, who, on behalf of the Government and of the town of Gisborne, congratulated the men on being the first to volunteer for the defence of the Empire,

Mr. Coleman remarked that every nation had a right to the kind of Government it chose, and the German people might have their Nazi Government if that was the kind they liked. Nothing could justify one nation in trying to force its forms of government on others smaller and weaker, however, and Britain was in this war because that was what Germany had tried to do. Belief in Britain’s Sincerity

“I believe implicitly that Britain is sincere in opposing Nazi oppression, and is fighting this war to save the smaller democracies. You by your action are endorsing that stand,” added Mr. Coleman, who pointed out that Britain had done much, even to the point of humiliation, to save peace.

“Now that wc are at war, New Zealand has offered the whole of its resources to the Mother Country, and will play its part as well as it did in the' last war,” he concluded. “If you are called- upon to go overseas, you will give a good account of yourselves, I am certain. God bless you in all that you are called upon to face.” The chairman of the Cook County Council, Mr. W. G. Sherratt, said that he had had the honour of farewelling the boys who left Gisborne during the Great War, and he now felt privileged to offer his congratulations to those who were prepared to fight in this war.

“If you keep up the standards New Zealanders established 25 years ago, you will be a credit to yourselves in the eyes of the world. Good-bye boys, and God bless you,” concluded the speaker.Addressing the draft as "gentlemen >f the new main body,” Colonel R .F Gambrill offered the congratulations of the old Diggers to the men who were taking up the fight which all thought had been finished. “Town Won’t Let You Down”

“We know what you face abroad and we know that there will be .imes when you need help in connection with your affairs at home,” he continued. “We want you to know that we are with you in spirit, and at all times at your service. If there is something that we pannot do for you, we will find people who can do it Your town won’t turn you down (Applause.) “War is a young man’s game, and most of us must stand down. We feel like old dogs who are sending out the young ones to fight. But we know that you will uphold the traditions which the N.Z.E.F. established and maintained in 1914-18, and we know that the new N.Z.E.F. will be at least as good as the old force." On behalf of the Gisborne Territorial Association, Mr. Charles Matthews also spoke briefly, stating that the association was backing up the efforts of the Returned Soldiers’ Association in watching the interest of the men going out to fight. He wished them- God speed and a safe .return.

The departure of the detachment was not long delayed, the men being detailed to the three service cars and taking their places almost at once. The W.E.C.M.R. Band, in charge of Lieutenant A. Wood, played the cars off, and as the detachment passed between long lines of N.Z.E.F. veterans, enthusiastic cheering and exchanges of last farewells merged into the singing of the old war-time song, “Good-bye-ee!"