New Zealand Troops’ Magnificent Part

Manawatu Times, Volume 67, Issue 206, 29 August 1942, Page 6

New Zealand Troops’ Magnificent Part

Mr. Churchill’s Praise (Official War Correspondent.) CAIRO, Aug. 26. Britain’s Premier (Mr. Churchill) gave generous and inspiring praise to a representative gathering of New Zealanders whom he met on his second visit to the Alamein battle front. He told them they :ad played a magnificent part in stemming the British retreat in Egypt. Covered from head to foot with the fine Lust of the Western Desert, and wearing is familiar grey-blue “boilersuit,” Mr. .hurchili gathered the New Zealanders oout him to give them an intimate talk. _fter referring to the part the New .ealanders had played in the Middle Jast, Mr. Churchill said: “When the reat days come, as come they will, we nail never forget your valiant service. ,ot long ago 1 heard someone in Engand say that the New Zealand fighting non are ’balls of fire.' That description was given by someone who had had a great opportunity of assessing your worth. I I am happy to be with you here, more particularly as your commander is a veryold friend of mine, a friend of long standing.” _ When Mr. Churchill met the New Zealanders near Corps Headquarters in the heart of the Alamein defences he was accompanied by' the Chief of the Imperial General Staff (General Sir Alan Brooke.), the Commander-in-Chief in the Middle Bast (General Sir Harold Alexander), the Commander of the Eighth Army (General 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 Frey.berg and he then went round the ranks and shook hands with all the New Zealand representatives. He was wearing green glasses and a sun helmet and carried a silk parasol, tightly yrolled, 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 iunened with him included Genex-ai Freyberg, Brigadier G. H. Clifton, D. 5.0., M.C., commander of the Sixth Brigade, Colonel F. A. Ardagn, A.D.M.S. of the New Zealand Forces, Bieut.-Colonel A. K. Hiilier, A.y. of the New Zealand Forces, and Brigadier S. Weir, C.R.A. The lunch consisted of oyster s?oup, prepared by General Freyberg’s. batman, Lance-Cor-poral T. Hill, of Hamilton, bully beef, tinned green peas, potatoes and tomatoes with mayonnaise, and stewed apples. There were no speeches, but the conversation was brisk throughout the lunch. Mr. Churchill addressed General Freyberg as “Berney” or “Bernard.” 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 hundred yards away were the pathetic little wooden crosses of the New Zealanders’ tiny desert eemetei’y. Empty petrol tins marked the cemetei-y’s boundary. Mr. Churchill was quick to notice this lonely graveyard of the men who had died lighting 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 sevex*al seconds. There was not even the distant boom of a gun in those few solitai-y seconds when tribute was paid to tho war dead by’ Britain’s Prime Minister. It was as impressive as any cathedral service. Mr. Churchill’s second visit to tho desei't was obviously a personal goodwill trip which he was unable to make on the previous occasion owing to tho pi-essure of battle-fx-oxxt business. He ti-avelled many miles across desert tracks in an open car to visit the men at their battle stations. Only two speeches were made by him during his battle-front tour and these were more in the nature of intimate chats to fi-iends. One talk was to the New Zealaixdei-s and the other to the members of his old l-eginxent, the Fourth Hussars, of which he is honorary colonel. The members of the New Zealand forces who met Mr. Churchill on his visit were Bi'igadier Clifton, Brigadier Weir, Colonel Ardagh, Bieut.-Colonel Hiilier, F. M. H. Hanson (Wellington), G. B. Agar (Wellington), Colonel S. H. Crump (Wellington), Bieut.-Colonels A. H. Andrews (Bower Hutt), F. P. Furkert (Auckland). J. N. Peart (Auckland), R. M. Ilai-ding (Dai'gavilie), C. B. Pleasants (Wanganui), A. J. Nicoll, Major R. F. Spi-osen (Chi'istchurch), Captain C. A. Newland (Mastei-ton). Second-Bieutenant A. W. Cottrell (Rotorua), fcJergeant-Majox-s C. F. Smith (Auckland), F. D. Martin (Auckland), J. H. Franklin (Napier), B. J. Auty (Timaru), J. G. Gowan (Chi'istchurch), R. M. Martin (Tolaga Bay), Staff-Sergeant S. V. Lord (fcTanktoxx Junction), Sergeants A. Sperry (Hamilton), A. B. Stewart, W. Batty (Auckland), K. G. Butler (Dunedin), R. Mack (Takanini), M. K. Gibbs (Dunedin), E. G. Aro (Auckland), N. F. Lee (Masterton), B. W. Moi'se (Napiex*), N. J. Kennedy (Tauranga), Corporals H. L. Smith (Wellington), S. Dunstall (Napier), J. Milne (Ashburton), Hardeman (Hokianga), A. G. Williams (Dunedin), B. A. Ci'opp (Lower Hutt). Driver R. S. Grant (Hamilton), and Private M. Stock (Auckland). The Military Secretary of the New Zealand Forces (Bieut.-Colonel B. F. Rudd, Auckland) and General - Freyberg’s personal aide (Captain J. White) and his A.D.C. (Lieut. J. L. Griffiths) were also presented.