BIRDWOOD STORIES

Hokitika Guardian, 12 June 1920, Page 1

BIRDWOOD STORIES

Since it was lirst announced that General Sir William Birdwood was to visit New Zealand innumerable little stories of which lie has been the Hero have been recounted by men who have fought under him on Gallipoli—and others \ylio didn’t. Some, of them were mentioned incidentally by speakers at last week’s reception in the Wellington Town Hall. They were treated by the. visitors as inventions—in fact, he said that of tho dozens that had been circireulated in Australia during his visit lie recollected only one as being founded on truth—and then he proceeded to got his own back by telling a few Liles concerning the men he had with him in Gallipoli days. There was one of your boys—l believe he was in the 'Wellington Battalion,” he said, “who surely showed the essence of easualuess. It was at Quinn’s Post. I found him in charge of a bpmbing post. In those days we did not have perfect bombs by any means; tliey were of a home-made jam. tin variety. I asked him how his bombs wore going on, and lie replied. “Dam bad! The bombs are no good at all. I’ll show you!” And with that he lit the fuss of one of them. It fizzled and spluttered, and just as I Turned to, got out of the way went off, a bit getting me in the garter and a bit getting the”bomber in the face. Turning to me he remarked casually: “Well, that’s the first one to go off to-day.” _ Before tho laughter had died down the General was started on another storv —the one Fold in Australia concerning himself, which lie remembered as being based on fact. He said it was his habit to run from one outpost to another. On getting to one of of the posts lie found a man who was cold and who sa id so. The General replied that the best thing he could do to get rid of the cold was to run, to which the man replied with enthusiasm. “1 was surprised when I left that post to run on to the next to find the man corning with me. He stuck with me from post to post, ancl at last, when I was wondering still more what lie was doing it for, pulled up and asked: When do we get to that —rum ? The General added that when he explained that a. slight mistake had been made ill the matter of the remedy for cold the soldier’s language left no doubt upon the question as to whether ho came from under the Southern Cross or not. One more story the General told to illustrate the average "colonial soldier’s point of view when Government stores were in question. “One hot day,” he said, “L saw a man in a heavy overcoat. I asked him what he was wearing it for, and this was the reply I got: “Well 1 only got it new this morning. 1 don’t like to throw it away just yet!”