A NOTABLE SOLDIER

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10274, 8 May 1919, Page 5

A NOTABLE SOLDIER

GENERAL RICHARDSON WARMLY RECEIVE© BY CITIZENS. Shortly before 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon, Brigadier-General G. S. Richardson, who returned to New Zealand a few days ago from England, arrived by special train from Auckland. Unfortunately, a misunderstanding as to the time of arrival upset plans for the reception to some extent, but the welcome by citizens, including members of the Returned Soldiers' Association, was none the less hearty on that account. As soon as the General was sighted by the ci'owd there was considerable cheering, which was renewed when the distinguished soldier briefly addressed thc3e waiting to greet him. General Richardson was accompanied from Auckland by MajorGeneral Sir Alfred -tlobin, Commandant of the Now Zealand Forces, and Colonel J. - R. Purdy, Assistant-Direc-tor of Medical Services. Colonel Gibbon, C.G.S., and a number of staff officers were on the station to meet the General. AT THE TOWN HALL SPEECHES OF WELCOME. The civic reception tendered to General Richardson in the Town Hall last evening was a worthy tribute to a notable soldier. The Mayor (Mr J. P. Luke) presided over a very large and representative attendance of the citizens, included among which were the Acting-Prime Minister (Sir James Allen), all the Ministers of the Crown at present in Wellington; and the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout), and many returned soldiers. Also on the platform were Mrs Richardson and the latter's mother, Mrs Warren, who is one of the oldest residents of Wellington. After the National Anthem had been sung to the accompaniment of the organ, presided over by the city organist, Mr Bernard Page, the Mayor welcomed back General Richardson on behalf of the citizens of Wellington. He„w.as sure all were extremely glad to greet such a distinguished General' and good man., (Applause.) General Richardson was not a stranger to a good many present, and at that time their thoughts were taken back to the time when the General first came tt< New Zealand for the purpose of assisting the Dominion in connection with its defences. 1 • It was due an««a very great measure to the General's splendid worth that the sons of New Zealand were able to play such a notable part in the great war. General Richardson had not only the confidence of the Government, but also of the people throughout the country. The Mayor traced the General's career prior to the war, and related how he had immediately placed himself at the disposal of the authorities at tho inception of the struggle. As was to bo. expected, he had proved his capacity, to- the-' utmost —at and particularly as one of the brigade that carried out such important duties at Antwerp. No body of men, said tho Mayor, could have a higher opinion of General Richardson than the returned soldiers, who knew full well that in tho General tliey had a friend who had proved, and would still prove, his worth. The Mayor also referred to the great assistance always willingly given by General Richardson,, to.jthe-., war workers. They wanted also, to,.teK der a welcome to Mrs Richardson, who was returning to the scenes of her childhood, and to pay their respect to Mrs Richardson's mother, aged eightysix years, who was on tho platform. Sir James Allen said he wished to Tivo tho heartiest possible welcome on behalf of New Zealand to the General and his wifo. He recalled tho timo the General first came to New Zea-land-stating that his first repression of General Richardson was that he would make his name in the military world. Tho General had justified Sir James's optimism, and ho believed that the efficiency of the New Zealand artillery was 4ue to his influence. lhe artillery had done credit to their country, aiid the General's splendid work was behind that success. General Richardson had been selected, for important posts because of his great worth and Sir James took the opportunity, as Minister for Defence, to 'ublicly thank him for his services to tho Dominion and to the Empire. In the great work of reconstruction that wns to follow the war, they required a man of strength and action —a man who understoood .the fellows he was dealing with. The War Office was loath to part with General Richardson, but the Now Zealand Government insisted, and at length he was permitted to return. Now it would givo tho men confidence to know that the man who was going to look after their interests was the uian who understood them, ■ ■ .■ The Hon. G. W. Russell briefly added a few words of welcome. At the instance of tho Mayor, lusty cheers were then given for the General, and tho assemblage joined in the singing of "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow.'' THE GENERAL'S ADDRESS. Thore was further cheering when General Richardson rose to reply. WliiU warmly thanking those present for tho sentiments expressed towards himself and family, he made it plain that he did not toko tho honour as a personal one. What he assumed—and lie trusted his assumption was correct —was that those assembled in the hall were paying a tribute to the Now Zealand Expeditionary Force, ancr that he was but the medium for giving expression to tho people's feelings with regard to tho brave fellows of the New Zealand Division. Never in his widest dreams had he anticipated that one day he would stand before a great gathering of his fellow-citizens as ihis was. in referring to the men who had come back after long service at the war, the speaker felt that a tribute was due to the comrades who lay on the battlefields of France, Gajlipoli, and elsewhere, and to the parents who had sent them out to fight in' the victorious battles of the Empire. It bad been said that tho people of- New Zealand had never been p.bin. - to "realise what wnr was like: but ho kiiewVthere were very few homes in this countryf.hat had not felt the sting of war. But there were no regrets to-day, because tho people knew that their relatives had died in order that t. great thing should be achioved. The thoughts of the men who'had returned to New Zealand .went back to the devastated legions from the Belgian coast to tho Swiss frontier, and to the little crosses that marked the resting-places of those

who had died that the nafion should live in freedom and security.

CARE O*F DISABLED

The -war had left numbers of disabled men. Before leaving; England the General had got together as many of the men as. possible and had found that they were looking .forward ■'to' future careers, to become successful- citizens in snite of their disability. In endeavouring to do what he could for the disabled soldiers in England he had, been given the "greatest- -'assistance on all bides, and Ihe'-sHtne"applied to other officers. (Applause.) He had cabled to Sir James Allen giving it as- his opiuion that money should not be spared in .order"' "tUa^"" 7 r ; disabled men should receive the best treatment, and be had received a reply that everything required for tbo men--would -he-readily granted. (LoueUiapplnaMC). :..•* r-;:-;-GREAT FACTORS. - -

General Richardson said that a great t'netor in the war had been the "medical services. He was not. a- medical man, but as one who-had been in close touch with the disabled men he had been impressed very strongly" with the excellent standard of efficiency of tho medical officers;' - The latter' -took - a personal interest in the men because they realised they were the representatives of the parents in New Zealand. The' General paid tt very'warm com-* pliment to the nurses who went out to tend the sick and wounded. 'Their 'fle-* 1 votion and sacrifices were splendid. and the personal interest they took in 1 the boys was very, gratifying, and pleasing to all. As to the nurses who had given their lives' he hoped it would he possible to erect a memorial...similar to ■ that erected to the heroine of the "Crimean war. ~ T .~. .... ..

~ Referenco was made to the work of the various institutions• that ,'ihad catered for the men's comfort, to the people of Now Zealand who had forwarded the very welccfme - parcels' and : to all those who had worked in the inJI terests of the boys. It was almost' Tinnecessary for him to repeat what a great reputation the New; ,Zealand peditionary Force had earned wherever it had served. The greatest authorities had inforfiftTd""faim™-that the men of the N.Z.E.P. * wore 1 ' among"*-trie' very best, not only for their fine fighting" qualities, but also for their respect for discipline. When the New Zealand Division was asked to carry out any. movement tho authorities, never_ had any doubts because it always achieved its objects, and often a. little more. He would ask them not to forget, however, the splendid part played by the divisions of Britain and her Allies. New Zealand had 'done- ■ her < ihare", - and .so I had the othere. . (Applause.) -Thfe cess of the New Zealand Division was" due in a great measua-e-'to the deaders, and he particularly mentioned Generals en for General Russell.

At this stage hearty cheers were given for General Russell. The General" added that he hoped a memorial to'" tlie '' soldiers' who had> fallen would bo- pint' up in New Zealand and also'on the battlefields, ;;,,,.,,. I , REPATRIATIO^.BBi>BLEiI^ t^ General that practically all the New Zealand soldiers would be back in New Zealand by September, -. WJien jjiey came back tho people-would have beforethem tho grea* problem ~xjf-repatria-tion. In attempting to reinstate the soldiers in civil employment thoy would meet with countless difficulties, but it was the duty-of the;peoplo_ to jovercome those difficulties. He trust'ed that he would be able to assist in that work. The greatest difficulty would be in placing niea who were not willing to resume their old employment, but he did not think there should be any great difficulty in absorbing these men. ANTWERP AN© GALLLPOLI. ;

General Richardson, concluded by, re- , "erring briefly, to- *he> Gallipoli.. »andH jAntwerp expeditions. He characterised i Gallipoli as a tactical mistake, andl stated that on the night before the landing he wrote- to Sir James Allonsaying that if he.had-had-anything-to do with tho campaign-li«-would" never have consented to the> preceding the landing, .thus "giving the show away" to the Turks. •->-Wittr- 1 regard to Antwerp, the British Minister responsible had been severely criticised, but the 'General ccHild' assure-, them that if thSiVgs-:'Ha'ff', H otherwise tho "Germans 1 "would '. hafiv been in Calais. 1 .' i TRIBUTE of artillery: '"\; ■FORCES."'' '•-'-■"'■"'■•.' "[■

At the clofie of the address, Colonel tj G. F. C. Campbell, Coast Defence ' Commander, presented General Richardsou with an: r il]uminatcd "address ott' ! behalf of the 'jSToiv" Zealand ,ArtilJery Foi-ces. Tlie a'ddressV ok'6-' cuted by Mr W, It. Bock, read as fol-. lows:—..

Dear General Richardson, — | Welcome to you, Mrs' Richardson, and your family from the Volunteer! and Territorial Artillery, "past ,~ : and~'j present. .■■ . ■ ,- ■ Twcnly-cijjht years ago, nrter <aueri- : torious service, as a non-commissioned* 1 officer in tho.iioyal Artillery; you ; came here as £o.the, New Zealand Forces'. > ;For ■ twenty years, first as. '. < master,,gurtnor,'-.'.-,and ! subsequently as Chief Ingtructor of j Artillery, you -were responsible for the training of the ! jthfe;permanent Force, the .It.N.Z'.X., ani'the tecr and Territorial Artillery. Insisting on efficiency,-y.QU vcere,particularly successful in cultivating.. enthusiasm. Your work during thak-pe-riocUiS'grwte-' fully remembered, for—your - influence was'always fot g00d.,, and.through-your unselfish and untiring endeavours and j thoughtful consideration-«-and - fairness;- j you held the affectionate esteem-of all j ranks. "" :"'.-." "

On leaving■ for^Ettglahd','thrtftt* jreart" before the wax,, you -passed through the'Staff College,'<?amberley;;" with distinction, and afterwards wore appointed New Zealand reprcsentatiTe v *at"tho' War Office inn-succession t;o General Sir Alfred Tlobin, K.C.M.G., CB. Attached to the-Admiralty Staff parly in the war, you-were on active service at Antwerp' <ttith* the Rbj'al Naval Divisiair-as- Assistant-Adjutant-General and • Quartermaster-General. You served with " distinction* oh the Gallipoli Peninsula, and subsequently at Salonika wjtjij;he rank <jf brigadiergeneral. For thV-last three most strenuous years of the great' war you have been Commandant in London, of the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces, and to theNew Zealand soldiers, and specially to the wounded and sick, , and . assisting, our workers in the United Kingdom. •( Your services toihe Empire have been recognised by the Sovereign andby France."" -Irr-the -higS~offici> you hold; the Dominion will hare the benefit of your wyperi-. euco and your unique. of the requirements'. ' ", "\ You have th'o"tharika'~6T alf of' us/ and a warm welcome" home. ' ' '