IN MEMORIAM

GEN. BRAITHWAITE

SERVICE AT ST. PAUL'S

Tribute to the memory of the late Brigadier-General W. G. Braithwaite, former commander of the Second New Zealand Infantry Brigade in France, was paid at a service held at St. Paul's Pro-Cathedral this morning. The Rev. G. McKenzie (acting vicar) conducted the service, which was well attended by military representatives and others. Among those present were the Minister of Defence (the Hen. F. Jones), the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, M.P., Mr. H. M. Christie, M.P., the Hon. R. Davis, M.L.C., Mr. J. A. Lee (Parliamentary Under-Secretary in Charge of Housing), Major-General J. E. Duigan (G.O.C. New Zealand Military Forces), Lieut.-Colonel O. H. Mead, Sir William Sinclair-Burgess (former G.O.C. New Zealand Military Forces), Wing-Com-mander T. M. Wilkes (a former Bri-gade-Major of Brigadier-General Praithwaite's brigade), SquadronLeader L. M. Isitt, Colonels G. T. Hall and A. Cowles, and Messrs. J. Spence and S. J. Harrison (Returned Soldiers), Messrs. T. R. Aickin, A. W. Nisbet, C. H. Weston, K.C., J. Hargest, M.P, W. H. Stilwell, S.M., M. S. Galloway, and C. A. L. Treadwell. A tribute to the late Brigadier-Gen-eral Braithwaite was paid by Colonel W. H. Cunningham, who said that their late commander's record of service' was one of which any man might well be proud. Both in New Zealand and overseas he had been efficient. He was a stickler for detail, and always saw that orders were carried out to the letter. Perhaps citizen-soldiers had been inclined to think their late commander a little bit fussy, but when they reached France they knew the real man. "No I British officer who served with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in France was ever held in greater respect and more efficient regard," said Colonel Cunningham. "He became 'Old Bill' to us all, and that title was no mark of disrespect but a tribute of affection. We came to learn that beneath that brusque and often blustering exterior thera beat the largest and kindliest heart in the British Army." Brigadier-General Braithwaite went successfully through the acid test of war, and maintained his simple Christian faith and his high moral standard throughout the years of trial. "He was like a father to the officers and the men of his brigade," said Colonel Cunningham. "He liked New Zealand and he loved his New Zealanders. He has now passed on and we honour his memory today. To his wife and family, of whom he was immensely fond and proud, we extend Our heart-' felt sympathy in their great loss."