N.Z. DIVISION PRAISED

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24768, 8 January 1946, Page 5

N.Z. DIVISION PRAISED

TRIBUTE PAID BY “THE TIMES”

LONDON, January 6. “TBe famous 2nd New Zealand Division, for all practical purposes, has ceased to exist,” says The Tl “ Except for administrative parties clearing up in Italy and the Middle East, the division now consists of a brigade group of about 4000 men who will be New Zealand’s contribution to the occupation forces of Japan.” “The cost to New Zealand of the maintenance of a division in the field from Greece to Trieste has been heavy.” says a special correspondent of “The Times,” in commenting on the dissolution of the division, but one valuable legacy for the men of the division is the maturtiy unobtainable save by the exceptional few in so insular a country “Thousands of young men have discovered an understanding both of themselves and those with whom they mixed and fought Their propagation of this discovery will be a valuable contribution towards the battle of Pe “Th’e burden of casualties will be difficult to sustain, yet in terms of achievement the cost has not been out of proportion. The division had a due share in silencing Hitlerian thunder “Britons never could quite understand how the division could possess discipline when hilarious privates greeted their commander with the famously inconsequent name of Tiny. When the word was passed on that there was a job in hand the division exhibited a aourness of concentration which was remarkable. “To all tasks the division brought a grimness of determination almost fantastic in its unexpressed intensity. It is a matter of pride to know of the division’s esteem among the British

Commonwealth and especially the people of the United Kingdom. It is also a matter of pride to remember personal membership of the division. There could be po comparable experience.” . W