MAJOR-GENERAL KIPPENBERGER

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24870, 9 May 1946, Page 6

MAJOR-GENERAL KIPPENBERGER

WAR SERVICE HONOURED CIVIC RECEPTION GIVEN AT RANGIORA The outstanding qualities of the New Zealand soldier, in his opinion, were unselfishness, devotion to the task in hand, initiative, kindliness, and unflinching valour, said Major-General H. K. Kippenberger, C. 8., C.8.E., D.S.O. and bar, speaking in reply to addresses at a civic reception given in his honour by the Rangiora Borough Council and the Rangiora County Council last evening. Mrs Kippenberger was also a guest of honour at the function, which was held in the Rangiora Town Hall. New Zealand’s reputation overseas was extremely high, he said. In Britain the New Zealand shoulder flash was a passport. The people of Crete still thought and talked of the New Zealand soldiers who fought there five years ago this month. In Egypt and Italy the New Zealanders’ reputation was as high as it could be, and they were remembered everywhere, principally for the qualities he had mentioned.

The proud name New Zealand enjoyed had been won by servicemen and servicewomen overseas, and by people at home who had worked to supply them. “Generally,” he continued. “New Zealand has come well out of the war—with a high reputation which is surely as important to a nation as to a person, its lands unravaged, and its health unimpaired; but this has been done at a cost of 10,000 of the flower of our youth. I hope they will not be forgotten.” Major-General Kippenberger said that he had not been long efiough back in New Zealand to have jnade any very useful impressions. He had again been impressed by the beauty of the country and by its abundance of good things, and it was a most noticeable contrast that there were no starving children and hungry people. There were still shortages and restrictions, but he could see nothing of which to complain. He had been impressed with the fine bearing and appearance of the thousands of young servicemen and servicewomen who had gone back to civilian life, and he was delighted to find that most of them were settling down or were about to settle down to become good citizens as they had been soldiers, sailors, and airmen. “I they are not finding it easy, anfl I hope that the people of this country give them help and that for their part they'ask only for what is their due. They must remember that when they were in the war against the forces of evil they were only doing their duty.” Referring to the speakers* remarks, Major-General Kippenberger said that very many other people in the war had done as much as he had done. “Six years and a half ago a few of my friends farewelled me from the council chambers.” he continued. “None of us foresaw that it would be for so long. I said then that I.hoped that when my service was over I would return to Rangiora. and resume my pleasant life here. My service is over, but I will not be returning to Rangiora to Live. On the eve of the war I remember saying to my wife that it was the end of the old pleasant days—and so it was.” The Mayor of Rangiora (Mr C. W Tyler). who presided, said that MajorGeneral Kippenberger had been a member of the Rangiora Borough Council for nine years, had commanded the district’s territorial unit, and had become commanding officer of the Canterbury Regiment. The training officers and men had received in territorial units then had stood them in •’ood stead when they were faced with the tasks of real war. MajorGeneral Kippenberger had been widely respected by his men because they knew that they would never be asked to go where he would not go himself. Mr A. M. Carpenter, chairman of the Rangiora County Council, outlined Major-General Kippenberger’s career from the time he left Rangiora in 1939 as a major until he,became commander of the 2nd New Zealand Division. For his great record* of service every person in the county had a message of welcome for him, he said. Mr Carpenter also referred to Mrs Kippenberger’s long service in patriotic work during the war. Other speakers were Mr W. H. Gillespie. M.P., and Mr H. Pitama, who represented ,the Maoris of Tuahiwi.