GALLIPOLI STAR

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 133, 3 December 1917, Page 8

GALLIPOLI STAR

DECORATION FOR NEW ZEALAND

SOLDIERS

STATEMENT BY THE PRIME

MINISTER-

A cable message from London, which appeared in last Friday's issue of The Post, announced that the War Office had agreed to advise the King to sanction the issue of ths Special Gallipoli Riband and Star, which the Australian and New Zealand Governments proposed should be bestowed upon all members of the 1914 contingents of New Zealanders -and Australians. ■ Two conditions were necessary to qualify. The claimant must have sailed before the end of 1914, and he must have participated in the Gallipoli campaign. The -War. Office added that it was necessary that Neve Zealand and Australia should submit an agreed-upon design for the Star, to be approved by the King. In reply to a question-, as to what is likely-to be done in connection with the proposal to bestow the decoration on New Zealand soldiers who took part in the GaJlipoli campaign, ;the Prime Minister, Bt. Hon. W. F. Massey, stated to a Post representative to-day: "Referring to the proposal, which has apparently been agreed,to by the War Office, that some special recognition should be given to the soldiers who took part in the Galli.poli campaign, it is rather'a coincidence, but the last letter that I wrote in London prior to leaving for! New Zealand was on; that very subject. The letter, which was addressed to LoTd Derby, was as follows:— - . . ■ . ' -.

V " Savoy Hotel, London, ■ ' . 14th May, 1917. " Dear Lord Derby,—l am' just oh the eve of ; leaving on my homeward, journey, and. I regret exceedingly that owing to your being out of town. I was unable to have the" pleasure of seeing you to-day. lam anxious to impress, upon you the-very strong desire on the part of those who took part in the Gallipoli campaign, and also their, relatives and friends, to have some special recognition provided in connection' therewith, j .You will recollect that I urged that 1 a similar recognition should also be provided for men of the first six divisions of the Expeditionary Force, who will go down to history as having turned the tide of war against the' Germans, and probably saved Paris. I know there are difficulties ,'iii' theivway,. if -■ doing, what I have suggested, but I: feel;certain that if it can be done it will meet with universal approval. - -I hope to. have.the pleasure of meeting you again, at some future date, when we shall be able to look back on the' very stirring times which we, have experi-: enced during the past few years. With all good wishes and kind regards, believe me, yours sinceTely. (Sgd.) "W. F. MASSEY."

"The matter had-beejn discussed previouely on several occasions," added Mr. Maesey. "I. have no doubt that later on a report of the discussion on this subject at the Imperial. Conference will be made public, but up to the present time that has not been done, and I consequently cannot make anything public that transpired there.. .'

"I hope in the case of the men who have fallen," said Mr. Massey' in conclusion, "that the star and riband will be forwarded to their relatives."