CIVIC RECEPTION AT WAIMATE

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24866, 4 May 1946, Page 2

CIVIC RECEPTION AT WAIMATE

MAJOR-GENERAL H. K, KIPPENBERGER

In no military task set them had failure been recorded of men of the New Zealand Division, said MajorGeneral E. k, Kippenberger. D,S,O. and bar, when speakipg gt a civic reception at Waimate. Senior commanders felt uncomfortable at such functions, he said, “while we get the thanks and the honours, it is the men who died or were wounded or who have now returned to civil life who deserve the praise.” He added that it was not easy to send men into

The gathering tor Major-General Kippenberger paid a tribute to General Sir Bernard Frey berg, whose devotion to the men serving under him and to his duty had set a high standard to rank and file, he said. When setting a standard for the 2nd N.Z.e.f.. they had taken as their pattern the Ist N.Z.E.F,, who had had a worse time m toe First World Wsr. They knew they could ask as much from the 2nd N.Z.E.F. gs the men of the first war. and the 2nd N.Z.E.F. might take pride in being ranked with tfieir illustrious predecessors.

Referring to services given by the units of the forces, the snepjter disced Bomber Command first. Air Marshal Harris, he said, had told him he would like to spend the remainder of his life praying for those of his cpm? mancj who had died, and that meant hgif of them. Next m were to® infantry end their company command? ers. Of 1200 infantrymen, 250 were in the front line and fin inquiry had informed him mat half the number had been wounded, 40 of them twice, and six of them three times, Next in merit he placed fighter pifot§, for ttmir oyt; standing part in the achievement of victory. All other services were closely in line. Actually, it was difficult to differentiate hetweep aqy of the services. he said.