Y.M.C.A. WITH FORCES

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24545, 19 April 1945, Page 4

Y.M.C.A. WITH FORCES

♦ GENERAL FREYBERG’S TRIBUTE

“NEVER FAILED IN THEIR * TASK ”

“On behalf of all ranks of the 2nd N.Z.E.F., I welcome this opportunity to send a message of deepest gratitude to all those members of the Y.M.C.A., both at home and overseas, who have worked so hard and unsparingly. Their determination to share all the dangers and hardships, and their interest in the welfare of-the troops, have been instrumental in maintaining morale at its present high state.” said LieutenantGeneral Sir Bernard Freyberg in a message received by the sixteenth biennial conference of the Young Men’s Christian Association, which opened in Christchurch yesterday. “Duririg five long years of war they have never failed in their task,’’ General Freyberg continued, “It was a great pleasure to have your commissioner with us recently. He was able to witness for himself how much your work means to all members of this force.

“I am writing this message,late at night from my office truck, during what I hope is one of our last battles here in Italy. My most grateful thanks to the Y.M.C.A biennial conference.”

The message transmitted from Italy had been received at Army Headquarters on Tuesday. A reference to the work of the Y.M.C.A. with the forces was made by the president (Mr C. R. Edmond) early in the proceedings. The reports dealt exhaustively with the achievements of the last year, he said, but he had been troubled by the report of a Dunedin R.S.A. meeting where it was suggested that Y.M.C.A. workers did not qualify f or membership of that body. This, he felt sure, was not the view of the mam body of R.S.A. members, nor was it the opinion of the public. The Y.M.C.A. had sent men fjar and wide into all Helds of service with the forces. All were tested members of the armed forces, partially paid by the armed forces. By and large, they had taken their share of the risks of service. Six had been wounded in action, five had been ajvarried the M.8.E.. and nine had Men mentioned in dispatches General Frevberg’s message wou’d be very grati'Hng to members of the Y.M.C.A.. who did not claim to have done any more than their lob.