ANZAC MEMORY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 100, 30 April 1934, Page 5

ANZAC MEMORY.

A SOLDIER'S TRIBUTE. FAMOUS 29TH DIVISION. FORMER COMMANDER'S VISIT. Concluding a sojourn in New Zealand since December is an ex-British Army officer, Licutenant-.General Sir William Raine Marshall, who completed a distinguished record of 38 years' service in 1924, since when, with Lady Marshall, lie has travelled considerably away from his home in Dorsetshire, seeing something of the world and particularly of the Empire which he served for so long.

The name of Sir William ivae brought to notice on Anzac Day in Auckland, when he placed a wreath on the Cenotaph 011 behalf of the 29th Division, one of the most famous British Divisions in the Great War, which, after participating in the. Gallipoli campaign, fought with distinction in France. The visitor's quiet, thoughtful tribute to the memory of the Anzacs was deeply appreciated by people who subsequently discovered that lie once commanded the 20th Division. "I was very pleased to be able to do it and to be allowed to do it," Sir William said later. "1 was at Cape Helles in those memorable days of 1015, ond saw a brigade each of the New Zealanders and Australians that went, with a certain amount of Australian artillery, to the support of the 29ths. The attacks at Krithia and Achi Baba were not the success anticipated, but they represented a very gallant effort, and I

[ admired the colonial soldiers. Actually, i however, I was in command of the 29ths | only for a fortnight, taking them round | to Suvla Bay to try to redeem the fail- | ure there early in August. I comi mandecl the 87th Brigade, and I took charge of the 20ths because MajorGeneral de Lisle had been detailed beforehand to consolidate the whole position of the troops at Suvla." Veteran of South Africa. Sir William, who started in the war commanding a battalion in India, later . went to France with the Stli Division. Finally he commanded the army in Mesapotaniia. He joined the British Army as a lieutenant in the Sherwood Foresters at Derbyshire and was with the mounted infantry throughout the South African War, commanding a column.. He was made a K.C'.B. in 1910, but did not utilise his title until he received the accolade in 1910. The next honour conferred upon him was that of Knight of the Star of India (K.C.5.1.), and at the end of the Great War lie was create*! a Knight Grand Cross of St. Mieha.'l and St. George In 1020 his book, "Memories of Four Fronts," was published. Dominion Appreciated. Charmed with New Zealand, Sir William and Lady Marshall, who are leaving for Canada to-morrow, intend to return in November to spend another summer here. "The extraordinary good manners of New Zealand people has impressed me greatly," he observed, i "for they seem so pleased to welcome and help strangers. Then again, the Dominion has newspapers that are excellent. Every small town even has its local paper, and all the papers seem to avoid controversial matters and cater well for their readers. There is moderation in comment. I have enjoyed fishing in different parts of the country at times, but I am told, and have reason to believe it, that it has not been the best of seasons. Most of this sport I have had in the North Island, where rainbow trout preponderates. There is more brown trout and night | fishing in the South." Lieutenant-Colonel W. C. Sine], D.5.0., who was in charge of the Auckland Anzac parade, called oil Sir William Marshall to thank him for his unostentatious tribute to Australian and New Zealand ooldiers. 1