GENERAL BIRDWOOD

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10606, 3 June 1920, Page 5

GENERAL BIRDWOOD

ARRIVED LAST EVENING CIVIC AND SOLDIERS’ RECEPTION TO-NIGHT. Sir AVilliam R. Birdwood, .accompanied by Lady Birdwood and their only daughter, arrived at A\ ellington last evening from Sydney by the Manuka. They wore met- on arrival by officers of the New Zealand Staff and conducted to the Midland Hotel, wlicro they will stay during their sojourn in ‘ Wellington. At S o’clock this evening General Birdwood will bo accorded a civic reception by the Mayor of AVellington (Air J. P. Luke, C.M.G., M.P.j. Among those who will welcome the distinguished soldier will he_ tho Prime” M inister (the Rt. Hon. W. F. .Massey). It is anticipated that there will bo a big assemblage of citizens and returned soldiers, especially those who had the honour of serving under General Birdwood in Egypt, Gallipoli and Franco. A DISTINGUISHED CAREER. General Birdwood’s career has been a most distinguished one. In 1009 ho was a colonel (brigade-commander) in India, and was subsequently given tho rank of brigadier-general, and mado a full general just before the outbreak of war with Germany. When the Empire’s call brought thousands of the overseas forces to Egypt, General Bird-wood was appointed to the command of tho Australian and Now- Zealand Army Corps (tho Anzaes) and under his 'able leadership the soldiers from overseas “made good” and established their reputation as clever and gallant fighters. GALLIPOLI, DAYS. A FAMOUS LEADER. Of “the soul of Auzac,” the “diggens’ ” leader, Mr F, M.. Cutlack, tho Australian war correspondent, writes: “Birdie'’ saw some of ills dreams realised on the day of the Anzao landing. The fame of his new troops was Hashed all over the world after that grim day; they wore a new military wonder. And if the General said to himself then, in private deliberation, that the leadership of these splendid Dominion troops was hia golden chance to win personal fame, who will blame him? The exultation of such moments defies analysis in cold blood. Whatever, he may have thought, his actions spoke clearly enough, but it is fame ultimately, perhaps, but it is life or death in its present and great ecstacy in its swift gusts of crisis. “Birdie’’ mado up his mind that if ho had to die on Gallipoli, there could be no nobler death than in such a company. Life was but little safer at the beach than up the gullies, anyway. So he spent the greater part of his time going around the trenches, and he was a familiar figure at the most dangerous posts. Ho is a gallant little man naturally, and here was every incentive to gallntry; he mado as plain as commanding officer could that lie valued nothing else in life so high as close comradeship with these men whose idea of fighting for a cause was to count no cost whatever. He got his reward in tho sincere and abiding affection, based on that simple ground, of every man at Anzac. No ordinary general, preserving the normal headquarters’ habits, coTild have written such a message to the Australians as “Birdie” wrote after the' withdrawal from the peninsula.

Our eight months at Anzac, he said, cannot help stamping- on the memory of every one of us days of trial and anxiety, hopes, and perhaps occasional fears, rejoicings at success, and sorrow —very deep and sincere—for many a good comrade whom we can never see again. I firmly believe, though, it has made better men of every one of us, for we have all had to look death straight in the face so often that the greatest realities of life must have been impressed on all of us in a way which has never before been possible. Bitter as has been my experience in losing many a good friend, I personally shall always look back on our days together at Anzac as a time never to bC forgotten, for during it, I hope, I have made -many fast friends in all ranks, whose friendship is all the more valuable because it has been acquired in circumstances of stress and often danger, when a man’s real self is shown.

It is hoped that returned soldiers will roll up in largo numbers to tho civic reception to General Sir TV. R. Birdwood to he held to-night at 8 o’clock. The ground floor of the Town Hall has been reserved for returned soldiers, sailors, and nurses. Dr. Boxer, -president of the New- Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association. and Mr TV. Perry, president of the Wellington R.S.A., will speak as representatives of the Returned Soldiers’ Association.