PIONEER MAORI BATTALION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 214, 4 June 1919, Page 6

PIONEER MAORI BATTALION

GENERAL KUSSKLL'S APPRECIATION. The Minister of Defence (Sir James Allen) lias received from General Sir A. H. Russell, who commanded the New Zealand Division iu France, a letter conveying his high approbation of the services rendered by tho Maori Pioneer Battalion. Both as fighting men nnd as Pioneers they won high praises, says the General, and this recognition of their fine qualities will be ft matter for pride not only among their own people, but among the pake-has of New Zealand, showing how well the Native race cooperated with the European in a time of great national emergency. Sir James Allen has had the Divisional Commander's letter translated into Maori, and published in tho "Knhiti," the Maori Gazette, which is widoly circulated among tho Natives. It is as follows :—

France, March 11, 191!). "Dear Sir James,—! have just heard that tho Maori Pioneer Battalion is on the eve of embarking on tho return to New Zealand. Having had tho honour and good fortune to have tho Maoris under my command, both as the Maori Contingent on GMlipoli nnd later in France as ,the Pionoer Battalion of the New Zealand Division, I should liko to express my appreciation, which I know is shared by all ranks of tho New Zealand Expeditionary Force, of the fine finalities shown by the Maoris (luring the war.

"On Gallipoli, when they took a full share in the initial operations on August li, 191S, in the battle of Oluiuuk liair. nnd Inter in the fif?lUinß on Hill CD. the Maoris proved themselves true descendants of those fighting tribes from which they avo descended. In Franco their work as Pioneers may not hayo been as dramatic, and therefore perhaps not so easily recognised by tho public But those of us who have benefited by the work done, by tho Pioneer Battalion— not only on the Somuie in 1910, at liessines, at Yprcs, and on thobattlefielde of 1018. but. nlso during the monotonous months of trench warfare, will readily acknowledge the debt we owe lo the Battnlion.

"1 am not going too far when I say that their work on conimnnicialioii trenches and in the preparation of de. fenco lines has saved the division many lives, and this work was carried out'under conditions so arduous and ns dangerous as any other duty which soldiers are called on to perform, while their opportunities for rest and relief were less than is the case with infantry in tho line, exeppt during a battle.

"Higlit through their period of active service (lie Maoris have shown themselves brave, well-disciplined, and in a very marked degree of (lint cheerful and willing spirit which floes so far towards the making of a good soldier. I am confident that I speak for tho whole division when I say we are proud of the Maoris as our countrymen and as brolhors-in-arms. I hope you will convey this appreciation of tho services rendered by (he Maoris in the war lo their representatives.—Yours sincerely, (Sgd.) A. 11. Russell, Maior-General Commanding New Zealand Division."