THE GALLIPOLI STAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 58, 1 December 1917, Page 10

THE GALLIPOLI STAR

WHO SHALL WEAR IT?

TROOPS WHICH FULFIL CONDITIONS

(By "Galli P.")

The news that the British War Office has decided to recommend to His Majesty the King that a Gallipoli riband and medal should he authorised for issue to New Zealand and Australian troops has been recevied with interest and approval by returned soldiers who fought on the Peninsula. A number of ofhcers and men who took part in the landing in April, 1015, now hold positions on the staffs of the training camps, and there are, of course, larger numbers in civilian life. Under the conditions governing the issue of the medal, all those who left New Zealand in 1914 will receive the decoration. The conditions, as cabled, are very definite. They lay down that the troops must have sailed from their home ports before the end of the year 1914, and must have landed on Gallipoli. The tenor of these conditions is considered to suggest that they have been well considered beforS being published. At the same time, if they .are strictly adhered to many men who fought for a long time on the Peninsula will, not receive the Gallipoli Star. . So far as New Zealand is concerned, the. Main Body and the First and Second Reinforcements are the only troops which qualify for the decoration, The Thirds left in February, 1915, the Fourths in April, 1915, the Fifths in June, 1915, and tho Sixths in August of that year. The bulk of tho men of all these drafts saw service on Gallipoli, and there is a good deal of conjecture as to why the strict limitation of the time of snilinp "to dntes prior to the end of 1914. The Fifths were not at Anzac, certainly; they disembarked 1 at Alexandria and almost immediately re-embarked for Suvla Bay, and experienced heavy fighting. Tho Sixths were on the Peninsula for only a short period. But all these drafts mentioned were there, and as the decoration is now to be called the Gallipoli Star and not the Anzac Medal further dotails as to the conditions and the reasons governing them are eagerly awaited.

It lias been stated by the Imperial Government that no special Gallipoli medal will be issued to the British troops which fought at Gallipoli. The 29th Division are always spoken of in terms of deepest admiration and respect by New. Zea'anders who were with thorn in the campaign. And tlio Indian Mountain Batteries, which were with the New Zealandcrs from the first day, and which struggled up to the heights in most heroic fashion, are likewise the objects of the regard of returned New Zealand soldiers. That they will not wear the Gallipoli Star is regretted. 1 n fact, the feeling is that every fighter who actually faced the Turks there should ho decorated in the manner suggested. The necessity of excluding those who were not aotu-i ally in the fire zone iB recognised by all concerned, also the fact that the drawing up of the conditions would present difficulties. In tho meantime further details are <mgerly awaited.