TRIBUTES TO TROOPS AND CAMPS

Manawatu Times, Volume 65, Issue 2, 3 January 1940, Page 8

TRIBUTES TO TROOPS AND CAMPS

General Freyberg Issues First Order Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 1. The first troop order issued by the commander of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force was signed in Christchurch on Saturday evening by Major-General B. C. Freyberg. In the order, General Freyberg-, who had seen a section of the main body cf the troops for the first time at Burnham Military Camp, praised the men for their physique and their keenness and the standard of the camp. “In afte* life 7 will look upon to-day, January 3, as the great red-letter day in my life, when I first inspected the troops that I am going to be associated with throughout the war,” said General Freyberg, who was seated in the office of 29th. Infantry Battalion Headquarters, where he prepared the speech he later made to the men. “I should be wanting in feeling and imagination if I did not feel that so keenly.” General Freyberg’s first troop order sent in the form of a letter to Colonel P. H. Bell, officer commanding the Southern Military Command, read: “Dear Colonel Bell, —After my inspection to-day of the troops of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force which have been trained under your command, I feel that I must write and tell you how very much impressed I was with all I saw. First let me say how pleased I was with the scale upon which the camp has been planned and the great care that has been taken to ensure the comfort of officers, commissioned officers and men. I have had a wide experience in questions of this nature, and I am sure that the standard achieved at Burnham is as high as in any area in the British Empire. “I also feel that the greatest care is being taken of the men’s health, and I feel that this should be made known as widely as possible. During my all-too-hurried visit to the camp at Burnham, I inspected four units of the 29th. Infantrj r Battalion, the 27th. Machine-Gun Battalion, the supply column of the New Zealand A.S.C. and the 4th. Field Ambulance. I was very much impressed by the physique and smart appearance of the men, by their steadiness on parade and their great keenness. | “Will you, therefore, see that my appreciation of the instruction that has been carried out by the officers and non-commissioned officers, as well as the work of the men themselves, is circulated as widely as possible. “I feel that there is one last message. Let. all ranks know that although we have been set a very high standard by our predecessors, the First New Zealand Expeditionary Force, I feel certain that the youth of this country will worthily uphold the traditions and reputation which their predecessors gained in Gallipoli, France, Palestine and Great Britain.—B. C. Freyberg, M.G. commanding the 2nd. N.Z.E.F.” It was no cursory inspection of the 2400 troops that Major-General Freyberg made. Each unit was drawn up ! on its own parade ground in inspecj tion order, and the army commander personally inspected every man. The officers later said that the men were so inspired by the soldier who is to be their leader that requests were passed down the ranks that they should be allowed to cheer him. Regulations, however, prevented such outward enthusiasm. It would have been a remarkable outward demonstration of respect and loyalty if the soldiers had been allowed to give voice to their feelings. TRENTHAM INSPECTION Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Jan. 1. At Trentham Camp yesterday, in surroundings that for 25 years have been associated with the training of New Zealanders who served in the Great War, 2000 men of the second New Zealand Expeditionary Force met Major-General B. C. Freyberg, V.C., D. 5.0., who is to command the New Zealand forces in this war. I The distinguished soldier expressed approval cf the men and of the camp. In the morning Major-General Freyberg was present at a chum parade attended by all the men, after which he inspected ‘he troops, submitting them, in the course of three-quarters of an hour, :o close scrutiny and conversing with many of them. He then took the salje as they marched past ■ him in co 1 :tr.n of route. | General Freyberg then met the officers and addressed the sergeant cooks and quartermasters, and finally delivered a ha f-hour address to the officers aad men, directing that his words should not be published. He left the camp at 3 p.m. In an interview before he left Trentham, Genera! Freyberg said that he had been greatly impressed with what was being done for the care of the troops. The scale and design of the camps he had seen in New Zealand were admirable. J The cooking, seating and sleeping arrangements were excellent and com- ) pared favourably with those in any i hutment camp he had seen. The physique and steadiness of the men had Impressed him very much. NATURAL. The stout woman had been in the boot shop for over an hour, and the patient assistant had taken down half the stock ■ for her inspection. 5 "These would just suit you,’’ ho said, said, as a last resource, taking down yet ' another pair. - But still sho was not satisfied. "I don’t like those," sho said. "They have a tendency to get wider with time." "Well, madam," replied the exasperated assistant, "didn’t you?"