FORBIDDEN TO SWIM

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 13333, 21 December 1943, Page 7

FORBIDDEN TO SWIM

INCIDENT AT SANGRO KIVF.K ORDER TO FREYBERG The story is related by the Cairo correspondent of the Exchange Telegraph Ctmrany that an etneer wno has just returned from the Eightn Army front in Italy told now Genera. Montacmerv ordered General r reyrerg. commander of the New aea.anz Division, not to swim, the Sangro River. General Freyberg. whose swimming teat a: Gallipoli is one of the best-known incidents of n:s career .telephoned General Montgomery at night from the '-ett nan.-t of the Eighth Army to discuss the day’s events. On one occasion ne said; T am swimming the Sangro morrow.” General Montgomery replied. "No you don't, and that's a military order." Then he announced to General Freyberg that he intended to visit the New Zealand sector or the front the following day. "Oh. no you're not. and that’s a military order. It's too damn dangerous over here.” declared General Freyberg. So the two leaders compromised. General Freyberg promised not to swim the Sangro and General Montgomery promised to visit only a specified "safe” part of the New Zealand divisional area. The generals met early next morning in a sector which General Freyberg believed was safe, and then "all hell" broke loose and they were bombed, shelled and machine-gunned. Still. General Freyberg hasn't swum the Sangro. and the Eighth Armv is still laughing over the story.