THE POST OF HONOUR.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1755, 4 September 1917, Page 3

THE POST OF HONOUR.

OLD BRIGADE AT AIESSINES

GENERAL’:-; PROUD TRIBUTE

A report of an address delivered (o (he. First New Zealand Infantry Brigade by General Godley on Jane 15th, after Ihe battle of Mcssincs, was read by Sir James Allen in Parliament. In it the corps commander said that to (lie First Now Zealand Infantry Brigade had come the honour of capturing the key to the whole position attacked by Ihe Second Army. In this they had succeeded when they captured and consolidated the line forward of Mcssincs. As they had been the original brigade to leave New Zealand, ho had asked General Russell to give them this to do, and they had done it well. He was sure no body of troops could have done work better or more completely. The dash of the brigade and the manner in which they had attacked wore absolutely all that could be desired, and he had no hesitation in saying that the battle of Messinos had sot a seal on what they had already done on Gallipoli and on the Somme.

Their casualties testified to the severity of the fighting they had to do. He greatly deplored the loss of their gallant brigadier, who had been killed at (ho moment of victory, at the head of his brigade which he had so gallantly led to (ho top of the hill. He was a groat loss to (ho force, and also to New Zealand and the Empire. There was no liner man. He wns sure they all fell how mucin (hoy had lost in his dealli and in the deaths of the other brave officers, non-commissioned officers and men, who bad fallen iu that great victory.

In conclusion, he wished to 101 l them how proud he was to have had a hand in the raisingj)f the First Brigade, and in bringing it frrtin New Zealand. He was sure also that everyone in New Zealand would be proud to hoar what had been done once more by the original brigade. Personally he wished to thank them from his heart for what they had done for the corps.