INSPIRING PRAISE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20874, 28 August 1942, Page 5

INSPIRING PRAISE

N.Z. SOLDIERS MR. CHURCHILL’S VISIT INCIDENTS IN DESERT (By Telegraph—Press Asan.—Copyright.) (N.Z.E.F. Official War Correspondent ) (2 p.rn.) CAIRO, Aug. 26. (Britain’s Prime Minister, Mr. Winston Churchill, gave generous and inspiring praise to a representative gathering of New Zealanders whom he met on his second visit to the Alamein battlefrorit. He told them that they had played a magnificent part in stemming'.the British retreat'in 'Egypt. Covered from head to foot with the fine dust of the Western Desert and wearing his familiar grey-blue "boiler suit," Mr. Churchill gathered New Zealanders about him to give them an intimate talk. After referring to the part the New Zealanders had played in the Middle East, Mr. Churchill said: “When the great days come, as come they will, we shall never forget your valiant service. Not long ago I heard someone in England say that the New Zealand fighting men are ‘balls of fire.’ That description was given by someone ivho has had a great opportunity of assessing your worth. I am happy a be with you here, more particularly as your commander is a very old friend of mine—a friend of long standing.” Officers Introduced When Mr. Churchill met New Zealanders near corps headquarters in the heart of the Alamein defences, he was 'accompanied by the Chief of the Imperial Staff, General Sir Alan Brooke, the commander-in-chief in the Middle East, General Sir Harold Alexander, the commander of the Eighth Army, General B. L. Montgomery, and the commander of the Thirteenth Corps, to which the New Zealanders are attached. The New Zealand troops were assembled in units with the staff officers in front. Most of those who met Mr. Churchill were wearing decorations recently won. The staff officers were introduced to him by General Sir Bernard Freyberg. He then went round the ranks and Shook hands with all, the New Zealand, representatives. He was wearing green-coloured glasses, a sun-helmet and carried a silk parasol, tightly rolled, which he used as a walking stick. After his address was over he got back into his open desert staff car and gave the New Zealanders a cheery wave with his hat. General Freyberg called for cheers and a full throated roar came from the New Zealanders. Then Mr. Churchill went .to lunch in a tent at headquarters. Those who lunched with him included General Freyberg, vyho sa.t on his immediate right, Brigadier G. H Clifton, D. 5.0., M.C., commander of the Sixth Brigade, Colonel P. A. Ardagh, A.D.M.S. of the New Zealand forces, LieutenantColonel A. E. Hillier, A.Q.M.G. of the New Zealand forces, and Brigadier S. Weir, C.E.A. Lunch consisted of oyster soup, prepared by General Freyberg’s batman, Lance-Corporal T. Hill, of Hamilton, bully beef and tinned green peas, potatoes, and tomatoes with rnayonaise and stewed apples. There were no speeches, but the conversation was brisk throughout lunch. Mr. Churchill addressed General Freyberg as “Berney” or ‘Bernard.” Tribute To War Dead Earlier in the day Mr. Churchill had paid a deeply impressive tribute to the New Zealand war dead. When he stopped on one occasion he stepped from his car and a bare iOOyds. away were the pathetic little wooden crosses of New Zealanders in the tiny desert cemetery. Empty petrol tins marked the cemetery's boundary. Mr. Churchill was quick to notice this lonely graveyard of men who ( had cied fighting for the cause.

He turned towards it and then stood in front of the largest cross Which marked the cemetery’s site as distinct from the humble personal memorials. In front of the cross Mr. Churchill removed his hat and stood in silent homage for severe* seconds. There was not even the distant boom of a gun in those few. solitary seconds when the tribute was paid to the war dead by Britain’s Prime Minister. It was as impressive as any cathedral service. Mr. Churchill’s second visit to the desert was obviously a personal goodwill trip which he was unable to make on the previous occasion owing to the pressure of battiel'ront business. He travelled many miles across the desert tracks in an open car to visit men at their battle stations. Only two speeches were made by him during "his battlefront tour. These were more in the nature of intimate chats to friends. One talk was to New Zealanders and the other to members Of his old regiment, the Fourth Hussars, of which he is an honorary colonel. New Zealanders Met Members of the New Zealand forces who met the Prime Minister were Brigadier G. H. Clifton, D. 5.0., M.C., Brigadier S. Weir, Colonel P. A. Ardagh, D. 5.0., M.C., of Christchurch, Lieutenant-Colonels A. J2. Hillier, 0.8. E., of England, F. M. H. HansiSa, M.M.. of Wellington, ,G. L Agar, 0.8. E., of Wellington; Colonel S. H. Crump. 0.8. E.. of Wellington; Lieut.Colonels A. H. Andrews, of Lower Hutt, F. P. Furkert, of Auckland. J. N. Peart, D. 5.0.. of Auckland. R. M. Harding, of Daygaville, C. L. Pleasants, M.C., of Wanganui, A. J. Nicoll. E.D.; Major R. F. Sprospn, of Christchurch, Captain ,C. A. Newland, of Masterton, Second-Lieutenant A. V/. Cottrell, M;C., of Rotorua. Sergeant-Majors C. F. Smith. Auckland. F. D. Martin, Auckland. J. H. Franklin, M.M., Napier, L. J. Euty. Thnaru, J. G. Gowan, Christchurch, H. R. Martin, D.C.M.. of Tolaga Bay. Staff-Sergeant S. V. Lord, D.C.M., Frankton Junction, Sergeants A. Sperry. MM. and bar, of Hamilton. A. B. Stewart. D.C.M., W. Batty. D.C.M., Auckland. K. G. Butler, Dunedin. R. Mack, Takanini, M. K. Gifaibs, M.M„ Dunedin, R-. G. Aro, M.M.. Auckland. N. F. Lee. Masterton, B. W. Morse, Napier. N. J. Kennedy, DM..' Tauranga; Corporals H. L. Smith. Wellington, S. Dunstall, Napier, ,;. Milne. M.M.. Ashburton. B. Hardeman, MM.. Hokianga, A. G. Williams, Dunedin. L A. Cropn. Lower Hutt; Driver R. S. Grant. M.M., Hamilton, j Private H. Stock, M.M., Auckland. The military secretary of the New Zealand forces. Lieutenant-Colonel L. F. Rudd. . D. 5.0.. of Auckland, and General Freyberg’s personal aide. Captain J. White, and his A.D.C., Lieutenant J. i L Griffiths, were also presented.