GODSPEED & SAFE RETURN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 December 1939, Page 5

GODSPEED & SAFE RETURN

MEMBERS OF FIRST ECHELON FAREWELLED Civic Gathering in Opera House DUTY RESTING ON WHOLE COMMUNITY ADDRESS BY THE MAYOR AND OTHERS “Take these men for your example,” said the Mayor, Mr T. Jordan, at the Opera House last night, when a civic farewell was extended to men of the First Echelon who had enlisted in the Wairarapa. “Like them, remember that prosperity can be only for the free and that freedom itself is the sure possession of those alone who have the courage to defend it.” Other speakers at the Opera House were Mi- 11. Whyborn, president of the Wairarapa R.S.A., Mr -J. W. Card, Mayor of Featherston; Mr R. E. Gordon Lee, chairman of the Mastcrton County Council, and Mr J. Robertson, M.P., while Sergeant J. R. Johnston replied on behalf of the men. Prior to the farewell, the men were tendered a dinner at the Midland Hotel.

"Since Sunday, September 3. Britain has been at war with Germany in a cause upon which freedom, justice and law are staked —not for us alone but for every civilised nation in the world," said Mr Jordan. “No one could ask for a clearer issue or a noblei’ goal. Britain went into this war with clean hands, a firm conscience and with no selfish ends to gain. We have sought peace with the German people almost at/ any price short of absolute surrender to treachery and brute force. We have given proof again and again in word and in deed that we desired its friendship but we have been unable to find either peace or friendship with one that is an outlaw among the nations. We are called to meet the challenge of a principle which if it were to prevail would be fatal to any civilised order in the world . -. . that principle is the law of the jungle.

"We are at war with a Power that has shown itself incapable of honourable dealings, with a Power that is the very apostle of treachery and brutality and we fight to break the bondage of fear that was daily encroaching upon the world. There will .be no peace without victory, no victory without peace. We, in New Zealand, have elected instantly to stand beside the Mother Country. Thus we find ourselves, for the second time in the lifetime of most of us, in the throes of a great national crisis. To these, the advance guard, shall I say, from this district of a new New Zealand Division, I wish to express our deep gratitude and to honour them for their offer freely to place on the altar of their country all they have and all they hope for. (Applause.) HEIRS OF GREAT TRADITION. “I would say to our soldiers,” said Mr Jordan, “you are the heirs of a great tradition —that of the great silent New Zealand. Division —built up by your very fathers. We have in the last few days laid the foundation of another tradition —this time a naval tradition. (Applause). Who is there amongst us that did not feel a thrill of pride to hear of the exploits of our New Zealand ship, the Achilles, and her New Zealand men in the recent naval engagement? The sea dogs’ litter has grown true to breed. “I believe there is a real spiritual value in the willingness of young men to devote themselves to the service of their country, but if our institutions are to survive and flourish, if freedom which is their life blood, is to remain pure and strong then this willingness to serve the community in some form or another will have to cease to be regarded as the eccentricity of a few but rather as the normal habit of mind of the great majority of us.

•‘Let us ponder for a moment. here in the presence of our defenders. How have we measured up in the past three months to our responsibilities and to the danger that confronts us? Have we laid aside the petty wrangles of everyday life and our sectional differences, to close up the ranks against a ruthless enemy? Or have we continued to move along asunder not understanding. not understood?

“Let us tell these men that from tonight we cease to think of our rights and shall do our duty to support and encourage them. (Applause). To them I would say: We know that the tradition of your fathers and the honour of our race are in safe keeping with you. In the name of the public I wish you Godspeed and a safe return. (Applause). To you, I repeat words two thousand years old: Take these men for your example, Like them remember that prosperity can be only for the free, and that freedom itself is the sure possession of those alone who have the courage to defend it.” OBLIGATION TO MEN. "It gives me very great pleasure to attend a function of this description and on behalf of the returned soldiers of the whole of the Wairarapa to pay tribute to these men,” said Mr R. Whyborn. Men were there, he said, from all, parts of the district. Those joining up for active service had already made sacrifices which had not been called for from the rest of the community so far, though there would be many sacrifices to be made yet. The men who had volunteered had a full knowledge of what was likely to be required of them. They had taken a solemn obligation to the King. Empire and Country and there was an obligation on the whole of the rest of the community to be behind these men 100 per cent. (Applause). These men were entitled to a solemn pledge from the public of New Zealand for an undertaking that they were going to have reinforcements coming forward to assist them in a steady flow as required. 'Applause). It was bare justice to them that before they left they were assured of ample reinforcements and had the country as a whole behind them. “I would like to make' this tribute, especially from the Old Diggers to the New Diggers—or the Old Guard to the New Guard—that l' have seen them in action tonight a little earlier and I can assure you that there was nothing wrong at all with their performance.” (Laughter). On behalf of the ex-servicemen of the Wairarapa, Mr Whyborn extended to the men the season’s greetings, a bright and happy Christmas, the best of luck right through their service and a safe return home.

DETERMINED TO END MENACE. Stating that the last time he had the privilege of addressing a public meeting in Masterton was 25 years ago on the occasion of one of the send-offs to the 'reinforcements of those days, Mr Card said he felt now. after an absence of 25 years, that he was the only one remaining in harness to carry on in the next war that had dropped on to them. (Applause). After referring to the outcome of the last war,- Mr Card said he hoped that this time the victory would be a decided one, which would remove, for some generations at least, the menace that had been hanging over civilisation and humanity for the last 20 years. The organisation and spirit paramount throughout the British Empire showed that our people were determined to end that menace. The young men now leaving New Zealand and others, he felt sure, would do their part well to emulate the work of the men of 1914-18 and would receive their first baptism of fire in a manner in which they would bring credit to themselves and show their efficiency as soldiers. They had a fine example to follow and he was sure New Zealand would be just as proud of them as she was of the men of 25 years ago. (Applause). On behalf of the South Wairarapa, Mr Card congratulated these youngmen who had offered their services and .wished them all success and a safe return.

LEAD TO YOUNG MEN.

Mr Lee said he wished to join in expressing admiration of the men of the First Echelon, who were about to leave these shores on active serviceoverseas. They knew that each and everyone of them would uphold the best traditions of those New Zealanders who fought heroically in the last war alongside the fighting services of all other parts of the British Empire. These men had given a lead to the young men of this country, their one ambition being to assist in safeguarding New Zealand and the Empire, indeed the whole world, against the dictatorial attitude that had been pefrnilted to prevail in Germany and Russia.

The future of the nation at the present time, said Mr Lee, was unfortunately dependent upon the armed forces of the Empire, but he made bold to state that so long as they had men of the calibre of those they were farewelling that night, they had little to fear, and that they would be triumphant, notwithstanding the task that was ahead. Those New Zealanders who had preceded these men—he referred particularly to the Air Force and Navy—had shown initiative and daring worthy of the highest traditions. He wished the men of the first expeditionary force God Speed and trusted that they would all be spared to return to this great country of theirs, with a record equal to and perhaps even greater than that of their predecessors. They would carry with them the good wishes of every New Zealander, and the confidence and faith of those who had prepared them for their great adventure. GOVERNMENT’S THANKS. Mr Robertson conveyed to the men the thanks and appreciation of the Government for coming forward so willingly at the first appeal for service by the Prime Minister (applause). Mr Robertson said he had been asked that day by Messrs Savage and Jones to personally convey that message to these men. The present was not the occasion exactly for joy. The war upon which they had entered had been entered upon in a spirit very different from that which characterised this country in 1914. The people of the great British Commonwealth of Nations had entered upon this war only after thc> deepest searchings of the heart and by making sure that they were doing the only thing that could be done under lhe circumstances prevailing in the world today. It was a fight for freedom which was only secured, held and maintained by those prepared to make sacrifices for it. The price of liberty was eternal vigilance and there could be no freedom, no real democracy so long as there was a lack of security for the people. Today they were entering upon a war not so much against a people but against lhe idea that brute force was the only virtue of the world. What mattered most tremendously was that lhe highest type of civilisation prevailed and that was why they wore engaged in this conflict. They in New Zealand had risen nobly to do their part and he hoped, they would continue to do it. Sometimes, in the past, some people had referred to New Zealand’s toy Navy but the Achilles, which had a number of men from this district aboard her. had nobly done her part, so much so that tribute hud been paid to the ship and her men in all parts of the world (applause). There were between 400 and 500 men serving in the Air Force and they too, were doing their part. Some of them had paid the supreme sacrifice and to their next-of-kin they offered their humble sympathy. The example set by these men imposed upon others a very serious duty and there was always some way in which they could render service. He believed that as time went on, the verdict of history would be that Britain had fought in this war not only to destroy a monstrous idea but to free the soul of the German people themselves (applause). Let them not

indulge in any hymn of hate and let them remember that the German people had enriched the world with poetry, art .religion, and science. Let them fight with clean hearts and hands and allow nothing to sully the fair name of New Zealand’s efforts. Let them do their best to be worthy of the men who were on active service. SOLDIERS’ REPLY. Sergeant Johnson, who was received with the singing of “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow" and cheers, said that on behalf of all the troops he wished to thank all for the farewell given to them. They were proud to be members of the First Echelon and were fighting for the great traditions of the British Empire. New Zealand naval men. and airmen had had the honour to be in battle before them and they took off their hats to them. He was sure that when their time came they would uphold the traditions of New Zealanders in 1914-18 (applause).

DINNER AT MIDLAND REPRESENTATIVE GATHERING. Men representing all sections of the New Zealand Division, and from all parts of the district from Eketahuna to Martinborough were present at the dinner tendered to them at the Midland Hotel by' the Masterton Borough and County Councils. The Mayor of Masterton, Mr T. Jordan, presided. Among the representatives of local bodies present were the Mayor of Featherston, Mr J. W. Card; the chairman of the Featherston County Council, Mr A.. B. Martin; the chairman of the Masterton County' Council, Mr R. E. Gordon Lee, and members of the Masterton County and Borough Councils. Brigadier-General Sir Herbert Hart, Messrs J. Robertson and B. Roberts M’s.P., and R. Whyborn (president of the Wairarapa Returned Soldiers’ Association), were also present. Among the apologies for absence received were those of the chairman of the Mauriceville County Council. Mr W. H. Cheetham; Councillors H. H. Mawley, G. Moore and P. R. Welch (of the Masterton County Council); Pte Mayor of Grey town. Mr A. W. Horton, and the Mayor of Martinborough, Mr C. Skill. Under the supervision of the Town Clerk, Mi- G. T. O'Hara Smith and the .Masterton County' Council Clerk. Mi- J. C. D. Mackley, the function rati, smoothly and well. Two toasts were honoured, “The King" and the "King's Forces.” The loyal- toast was proposed by Mr Jordan. In proposing the toast of “The King's Forces,” Brigadier-General Sir Herbert Hart, K.8.E., C. 8., C.M.G., D. 5.0.. V. 8.. Chief Administrative Officer, Imperial War Graves Commission in the Near East, referred to the three units — the Navy, the Army and the Air Force, stressing the important part that each played in the unity of the Empire. He mentioned the wonderful development of the Army in a few months. The glorious exploit of the Achilles in the recent naval battle was referred to, there being a large number of New Zealanders on board. After makingreference to the Air Arm Sir Herbert Hail urged the troops to keep their sense of humour at all times. In replying on behalf of the soldiers present, Sergeant J. R. Johnston (Masterton) expressed appreciation for the splendid gathering and congratulated those responsible. He stated that .the men would do their utmost to carry on the traditions of the Diggers of 1914-18.