GRATITUDE TO NAVY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 July 1941, Page 6

GRATITUDE TO NAVY

FOR VALIANT WORK IN GREECE AND CRETE Expressed by New Zealand Expeditionary Force SPONTANEOUS GIFT FROM RANK AND FILE MADE BY PRIVATE ON CRUISER'S QUARTERDECK ■ (N.Z.E.F. Official News Service). (Received This Dav. 10.10 a.m.) , ' CAIRO, .Inly 23. Unique in the history of the Services, a simple ceremony took place on a recent morning when a delegation from the N.Z.E.F. handed over to Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham a cheque for £B2O 11s. The simple and unostentatious ceremony manifested the singularly close ties of friendship binding the members of the two great services—the Army and the Navy. This unusual gesture on the part of the N.Z.E.F. was, born on the beaches of Greece and Crete, where the cry: “It’s the Navy, boys!’’ was the clarion call which roused the New Zealanders and gave them new hope. So gallant was the action of the Mediterranean Fleet in evacuating New Zealand soldiers, under a most terrific bombardment, that the soldiers of the Dominion force later felt obliged to express their gratitude in some tangible form. The result was a substantial cheque, made up entirely from voluntary subscriptions from all ranks. Another feature of the ceremony itself that has its own significance was the fact that the cheque was delivered into the hands of the Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet, not by Major-General Freyberg, V.C., himself or by a senior commander. It was a private from an ambulance unit who delivered the cheque and expressed, with impressive eloquence, the gratitude of the personnel of the N.Z.E.F. for the great work of the Fleet in the two campaigns. Arrangements for the reception of the New Zealand party were made by the Vice-Admiral commanding a cruiser squadron. They were met on board his Majesty’s ship by the captain. It was appropriate that the ship chosen had several New Zealand ratings in her company. Major-General Freyberg was accompanied by a representative party of officers, non-commissioned officers and other ranks from N.Z.E.F. units. The naval party comprised personnel from his Majesty’s ship and an officer and five ratings of several other vessels. The function took place on the quarter deck, but was broadcast throughout the ship. Major-General Freyberg introduced Private D. W. Sampson, of Christchurch, the soldier who was to hand over the, cheque and express the gratitude of the N.Z.E.F. for the fine work of the Mediterranean Fleet during the campaigns in Greece and Crete.

MEMORABLE ASSOCIATIONS. It was because of the deep feelings of gratitude and high admiration that members of the N.Z.E.F. had for the services rendered by the Navy that the New Zealanders counted it an honour to be able to present the cheque on behalf of their comrades, said Private Sampson. They were thankful for the convoying of the New Zealanders safely from their homeland to the various scenes of action, and in particular for their association with the Navy in the evacuations of Greece and Crete. “It’s all right, the Navy's here” —words uttered as the -German prison ship Altmark was boarded, and Nelson’s famous: “England expects," had come to be symbolic, of the spirit of the Empire and in particular of the. Royal Navy, he added. “On the beaches of Greece and Crete, we heard those words again, as though coming from a shadowy past,” said Private Sampson. “We heard those same words filling us with courage and assurance. On board those ships the hospitality was something to be long remembered.” The manner in which the men of the Navy went out of their way, even giving ■up their beds, in many cases, to make New Zealand soldiers comfortable, would never be forgotten,” said Private Sampson. “We understand,” he continued, “that this money has been set aside to help the dependents of those of your crews who gave their lives on these dangerous undertakings that we might be brought to safety. To us it gives no small satisfaction that the money should be used in that way. Further, we regret that circumstances make it impossible to arrange a gathering of the whole N.Z.E.F. at which this presentation could be made. You can be assured that the hearts of the men are in this to the full. Were they here, they would show in the most hearty and boisterous manner just how deeply those feelings run.” Concluding, Private Sampson asked Admiral Cunningham, on behalf of the officers and men of the N.Z.E.F., to accept this sincere token of their appreciation and their high admiration of the unflinching devotion io duty of the Navy in times of danger. THE ADMIRAL’S REPLY. “We are always very glad to see you on board our ships and only wish you would come more often,” said Admiral Cunningham, in extending a welcome to the visitors. It is just over 26 years ago that the little ship I then commanded landed a battalion of New Zealanders at Anzac. Well I remember how much all of us were impressed by them, how we admired them and what a close friendship there was between our sailors and those fine men.”

Admiral Cunningham gave an assurance that the same feelings of admiration and friendship as were entertained in those days were present for those who, he presumed, were the sons or nephews of those men of 26 years ago. He even believed that those feelings existed to a greater degree.

“We followed your doings in Greece and Crete with interest and admiration,” said Admiral Cunningham. “First there was heavy fighting against heavy odds,' then an arduous and well-con-ducted retreat and a gallant rearguard action and finally a well-disciplined embarkation and passage to Crete, not without its own particular perils. Again there was the Battle of Crete, in which we were able to take part and where you did all that men could do.

GLORIOUS FAILURES.

“These two episodes were, I suppose, failures, but they were glorious failures and I believe they will have a material effect on the final outcome of the war, which will be our complete victory.” Reference to the arduous retreat over the mountains to Sphakia, where the troops were taken off, was made by Admiral Cunningham. It was the work of the Navy to take those troops off and it was gladly and proudly done. There was no necessity even for the thanks of the New Zealand troops, “but now (the Admiral continued) you have come forward with this splendid gift to our benevolent fund. When I read the generous terms of Major-General Freyberg’s letter and heard the very handsome and flattering things Private Sampson had said, and realised the kindly feeling which prompted the gift, I at once decided I could do nothing else but accept it on, behalf of the Mediterranean Fleet. I do now, most gratefully. This sum will be sent to our benevolent fund and we will try to have it earmarked for the benefit of the dependents of those who fell in the evacuation of Greece and the Battle of Crete.

GIFT APPRECIATED.

“In conclusion, on behalf of the ships who were privileged to be associated with you in these operations, let me again thank you most gratefully for this very, generous gift, the kindly spirit which prompted it and the very kind and handsome words which accompanied it. We hope this is not the end of our association and that scon we shall have men of the N.Z.E.F. on board our ships again, this time steering towards the enemy and to final victory.”

The New Zealand party was entertained at lunch, and a special treat' for other ranks was a conducted tour over a submarine.