The Prime Minister and Sir Joseph Ward

Horowhenua Chronicle, 16 January 1917, Page 4

The Prime Minister and Sir Joseph Ward

. * I, VISIT TO THE WESTERN FRONT. , PRESENTATION OF IUI3AXDS FOR • GALLANTRY. ; JOURNEY TO THE SOMME | BATTLEFIELD. J (From Malcolm Ross, War Correspondent with tlio N. Z. Forces in the Field). (Northern France, Nov. 4. The Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey. P. 0.. Pi'imo Minister of New Zealand and Sir Joseph Ward, Bart., Minister of Finance, have just concluded an interesting visit to the Western Front. On arriving at headquarters of the corps, to which the New Zealand Force is attached, tliey were for two nights iand days the guests of the corps commander. On the morning of the- day following tlio arrival they were present at an interesting ceremony of the presentation of ribands representing decorations awarded tee New Zealand officers and men for gallantry and distinguished services in the campaigns in' Ga.llipoli and France. This ceremony took place in a field a short distance behind the lines at present held by the New Zealand infantry. As the name of each recipient was called lie came up to the army commander and saluted. His name and a brief rosume of tliei acit of gallantry or service that he had performed was then read out, and the riband was pinned on liis left breast by the Cummauder, a veteran, grey-haired soldier who had seen something of the services of the New Zealaiiders in the youth African War. The Commander then shook hands l , the recipient saluted, and then returned to his place.

At the conclusion of the presentations the Army Commander briefly addressed the assembled troops. He said:—"l have had very great pleasure in accepting the invitation of the Corps Commander and the Divisional Commander to come here this morning and present the ribands representing the decorations which His Majesty the King has been pleased to award to officers, non-commissicned officers, and men for individual acts of gallantry and devotion to< duty during a period extending lrom Galipoli to the present time. . .1 was especially! glad to come here this morning because we and you are honoured by the presence of the- Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance of New Zealand. 1 am sure it must have been gratifying to them to hear of such records of gallantry and devotion to duty as have just been read out. Time did not admit of the full records being given, but I knew a- great many; of them because 1 have seen them, and I know, aiid you know, that there is not a single case in ivhich the decoration has not been fully earned. And what is more, you and 1 know that in a campaign like this only quite «• small proportion of the men who have distinguished themselves are able to receive such recognition. And we also know—you better than 1 that many of those who are .no longer wth usi, and whose loss we all deplore, would, if they had survived, have been present here to-day to receive similar decorations to those awarded. To those who have been given the ribands this morning 1 would say just this, as 1 always say under (similar circumstances—you should be justly proud to receive these decorations, and justly proud of the acts and the services that they commemorate. And. lam quite sure that 1 can speak for you in saying that you are still more proud, on this occasion to be the representatives of the units to which you belong, proud to have done something to bring honour and distinction to units you have served so well. I -do not think any more testimony! is necessary to the services that this Division has rendered since it took part ill this campaign. But 1 believe you have received -testimony, written and oral, from the Commander-in-Chief of the Armies in the Field, and from the Commanders of the Army and ol the Corps under whom you have recently served on the Somme and I believe that testimony! was couched' in the most flattering terms.. I»may tell you that since you came out of the line on the: 'Somme >1 have personally seen the Army and the Corps Com-' manders, and that the terms in which they spoke of the work done by his Force were go flattering that you might all be too conceited were I to repeat them. I congratulate: your Commanding Officer, the non-commissioner officers and" men upon the excellent work they have done. Your former commader who is now at the head of the Corps, who has been so closely indentified with yon and to whom you owe so much, musti he proud to-day of the record that this Division has established. AVe of the Army with which you are now associated, are also proud of those services. Though in the recent fighting you were not with us we have watched with close interest all you have done, and we a're glad to welcome you hack lamongst us. I feel sure that wherever you are you will continue'lo carry out your work with the same spiritj devotion to duty, and self-sacii-fice that have marked so' admirably your recent operations on the Somme.

VISITS TO OTHER UNITS,

The Commander of the Army having taken his departure., Mr. Miassey and Sir .Joseph Ward, accompanied by the coi-ps and divisional commanders, proceeded towards the front to visit other units of the Ntew Zealand Forces. Mo to-iing along the muddy, roads they at length came to ia field marked "Paddock 56," where men from the Canterbury and Pioneer 'Battalions we're drawn up. Mr. Massey, in a brief address to the former, expressed the pleasure that .it had .given Sal' Joseph Ward and himself to come from tho other side of the'world and find the New Zealand troops in such good heart. He congratulated them upon their spleord'd appearance and their cheerfulnesss after all the trials nnd troubles they had oome through. He conveyed to them the best wishes of their relatives and friends in sNew Nealand. Their hearts were with them in .France i to-day and they were particularly proud of the reputation they had built up, | both in regard to their fighting qua'lit- ' ies and their conduct generally. The ' eeromony of the presentation of ribands for gallantry and devotion to duty that ' they had had the privilege of witnessing that morning was a particularly interesting one. In conclusion, he j hoped that this war would soon come !to an end and that they would have | the pleasure of welcoming them back J to their own country.

fcj'Lr Joseph Ward addressed tlio Pioneers, who were in command of a former Maori member of the .New Zealand Parliament. He expressed t'lie keen interest witli which Mir. Massey and himself had looked forward to a meeting with the New Zealand troops i.n Uio iieild. To the Maoris lie ex-p're-.sed the pleasure it gave them all to lind them associated so closely with the European troops in this war. And ,he was glad to; find that their old trad.tions r.s fighters were .being handed en- to-day. The people of both races in New Zealand were deeply interested in their doings and in the fine performances in this campaign. There was one thing that both Mr. Massey and luimself were particularly struck with, and that was tlieir cheerfulness. They were helping their kith and kin across the seas and their Allies in this great struggle to will out for the civilisation of the world. In the meantime he would say to all of them "Kia ona, Arolia!"

At other -parts cf the front units from -tho different brigades; were seen, and siinila'r brief speeches were made. Cheers were given fin:,, Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward, and the men seemed just as pleased to see tlieni as they wore to see tho men. 11l one of these groups was the Prime Minister's son, who went through tho strenuous fighting in the Somme advance. At times the speeches of tho Ministers wore punctuated with the desultory living of the guns along the front.