TO ALL SERVICES

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 302, 21 December 1943, Page 4

TO ALL SERVICES

CHEER FROM R.S.A. CONGRATULATORY MESSAGES (P.A.) WELLINGTON, this day. Seasonal greetings and messages have been sent by the Dominion president of the R.S.A., Mr. B. J. Jacobs, to Lieutenant-General B. C. Freyberg, Major-General H. E. Barrowclough, Commodore Sir Atwell Lake (Chief of the Naval Staff), Air Vice-Marshal L. M. Isitt (Air Officer Commanding the R.N.Z.A.F.), and Sir Gilbert Dyett (president of the Returned Sailors', Soldiers' and Airmen's League of Australia). The message to General Freybei'g expresses the association's admiration for all ranks on their splendid achievements, and confidence that Italy will provide fresh laurels, together with best wishes for "a New Year that will herald quick and complete victory." To Major-General Barrowclough the association conveyed congratulations to all ranks of the Third Division on bringing new honours to themselves and their country by emulating the deeds of their brothers in the Middle East. Major-General Barrowclough, replying, said: "We are fully conscious that the actions to date are only outpost affairs, but greatly appreciate your encouraging message. Given the chance, we shall do our best." The message to Commodore Lake recalled Hitler's prophecy that the day of surface craft had passed, commenting: "Those who man then} have demonstrated this was purely a dream, from which the awakening has proved to him a disturbing nightmare." To Air Vice-Marshal Isitt, Mr. Jacobs said the part the men of his Service played in the Battle of Britain would never be forgotten. Since then they had circled the world, and in all theatres had earned distinction and honour. They had truly written some epic pages in the history of the World War.