SPECIAL GENERAL ORDER.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 July 1919, Page 6

SPECIAL GENERAL ORDER.

By Lieuteimnt-General Sir Alexander J. : GodlejvK.C.B., K.C.M.G., Commanding New Zealand Expeditionary Force.

To all ranks of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force:—'

As the demobilisation of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, now. nearly complete, will automatically terminate my command, I take this opportunity to bid you -farewell.

It lias been a great privilege—a privilege I have most fully appreciated—to have not only raised and brought from New Zealand such a force, but to- have had the honor of holding the command of it throughout viie whole period of war.

Much to my regret, the exigencies of the service have, frequently, and at times for long periods, withdrawn formations and units from the- New Zealand Expeditionary Force from my"command in. the field. Some, like the Division and Mounted Brigade, have served under many commaraers and in many areas, and all have served under at leatet one commander other than myself.

la Gallipoli, Egypt, Sinai, Palestine, Prance.. Belgium, and the United Kingdom, you have taken your full share of the burden and stress of this war, and you have earned, I believe without exception, the highest regard of all those under whom and with Vhom you have served.

You will leave behind you it reputation for discipline, fighting qualities, steadiness, resource, initiative, Tiard Work, and gentlemanly conduct, of which both you and New Zealand have every reason to be proud. All those who have :n acy way contributed to this reputation fry their conduct, whether in. the front line, tho lines of communication, in a base camp, or in whatever capacity the needs of the service have placed them, will accept my most grateful thanks. In particular I desire to place on record.the great indebtedness due to me and by all those concerned in the welfare of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force to Major-General Sir Andrew Russell, K.C.8., K.C.M.G., Major-General Sir Edward Chaytor, K.C.M.G., C.8., T.D, A-D.C., jana Brigadier-Genera? G. S. Richardson, C.8., C.M.G., C.8.E., for their loyal co-operation, continuous v hard work and great capacity for leader-( | ship and organisation. I , To tho New Zealand Defence Department, and, the Headquarters and Military Districts of the New Zealand Military Forces in New Zealand, we owe a deep debt of gratitude. Tho wearying support and unceasing help «i s by' Colonel The Hon. Sir Jan«s Allen, K.CJS., T.D., M.P., and by Major-Gfiieral, Sir Alfred Robin, K.C.M.G, C.8.. T.D., who have been, respectively Minister of Defenco and General . Officer Commanding the New Zealand Militarv Forces, throughout the who'* period of the war, have been of the ewafcsr possible value to us, and have eontributed largely to the su«es s attained by the Force. '

I also desire to o*pr«ss, both on my own ana on your befialf, our hearty thanks to all those officers lent to us by the British Army; the fact that ws have fcee.,i able, in a steadiir increasing decree, jfo replace them by New Zealand officers capable of ejirryinsr on their duties is tho best possible proof of thq disinterested success and value of their work

Though the New Zealand Expeditionary Force lias not suffered cut of proportion to the other forces engaged,'the cost of our victory in the ir*s of valuable lives—the greatest ovil incidental to all wars—has been heavy My sympathy goes out to all those of yon who are returning to your homes, permanently disabled. I rejoice however, to know that not onlv will the usual compensation be given in the way of pensions, Ihut that the New Zealand Government propose, to do all in their power by education and other means to J enable you to carry on useful work in I the future in spite of your disabilities. Still more do I sympathise with the relativesi of those who will ■ never return. May they he comforted by the thought of the supreme sacrifice made for which thev died, namely, the very existence of the British Empire and of New Zealand as a free country within that Empire. May they also be comforted b> the knowledge of the fact that it was the thought of the supreme sacrifice made' by their comrades and Tolatfres, and the belief that the acceptance of anything short of complete t . victory would bo treason to.their memory, that did more than anything else to'steel the hearts of both our soldiers and civilians to tho long sustained effort and natient endurance that eventually won through. In the record of your service in this war you have' given the Now Zealand Citizen Army the best of all possible foundations—the cf sacrifice and success.

I trust no effort will be spared to utilise to the utmost extent this dearly bought tradition, and that the name of every soldier who has foucrht in this war will in some way be associated with a specific New Zealand Territorial Unit, and that his services will he recorded in that unit's regimental history. I hope that many of you will continue to take an active." part in the work of the New Zealand Military Forces. "Your experience, of actual warfare has'taught you-the true meaning and supreme", value of discipline, your co-opera-tion, therefore,, will be invaluable. It. is claimed by spipe flint war ser-vices-justifies a subsequent life gf : casc. and the making of many demands on the rest of *the community.. Th(it no: ex-member of the New 1 Zealand Expeditionary Forise will be found to re-echo so unworthy a sentiment, I feel confident. t I trust rather that the spirit' of service and self-sacrifice so conspicuously shown throughout the war will be carried on into civil life, and that all will endeavor to do their full share in making good the leeway and in bearing the burdens caused by the wai. My four years as General (WceT Commanding the.Forces in New Zealand, and my nearly five years' experience, as General Officer' Commanding the Now Zealand Expeditionary Force, has specially impressed me with the natural capacity of the Now Zealander. New Zealand, T am convinced, is able and is destined to play a part in this world out of all proportion to her size and population,

That s-ucli a destinY may So fiers, anil that you may all return in safety to yemr homes and may live lonpr in happinesfl and prosperity' in your jrreatly favoured country is the sincere wish of ISgd.) ALEX. 9r. GODLEY, ILieut.-Cbueral, Coamanding New; Zealand Bxtpeditioiiary ,■ •Forcfc, STune m