"THE TRENCH SPIRIT"

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 120, 16 November 1929, Page 10

"THE TRENCH SPIRIT"

< FINER SIDE OF WAR

GOyERNOR-GENERAL'S SPEECH

The finer side" of war, "the trench spirit," as ho called it, was dwelt npoa by the Governor-General (Sir Charles Fergusson) in his farewell speech at a smoke concert held- by the Christchurch Beturned Soldiers' Associatioa in' his honour on Thursday evening. His Excellency emphasised the importance of carrying this spirit into ' modern life, and spoke eloquently of the lessons of self-sacrifice and team work that had been learned by the men at the front (states ."The Press "). . "The five yea.s we have-been in NewZealand," said His Excellency, "have, been the happiest in my life. I have never refused an invitation to a gathering of soldiers, and I have never failed to keep an appointment, not because I considered it my duty, but because it has always been a pleasure to me. I wonder if there are any member's of the old Tunnelling Company here?" he asked. There was no response, and His Excellency remarked: "Not "one. They are mostly on the West Coast. (Laughter.) I spent an evening with them on the Coast, and a most hilarious evening we had. For a year and a half the Tunnelling Company was 6a Vimy Ridge, and I was in command. In sis months they ■ had ; the Boehes under their thumb. I also' had the pleasure of having some of the NewZealand Artillery under me for six: weeks at the end of the war, and up m Cologne the New Zealand Division was under me, and after the war their example was every bit as fine as when the fighting was going on. "In Wellington the other night we had the V.C.'s of-New Zealand at dinner, and a very interesting gathering it was. We had seven of them, and most of them were the mildest looking men, and it was difficult' to realise that one was talking to nien who had done the deeds that were recorded against their names. We had a splendid evening, and I took them down with me to spend the evening with the Wellingtoa Regiment, where I left them later in the evening, bearing in mind'the words of the young subaltern who remarked that it was not decent for senior officers to remain in the mess after 10 o'clock." Speaking of the greater things that were learned from the war, His Excellency said: . ' ''I would like to emphasise, as this is my farewell talk, that we have all been soldiers and sailors," he said'and I think that, looking back, we recognise that, horrible as in some ways that time was, every one of us recognised that in those years we learned to put aside the rubbish and hnmbue of life and look for the things that really matter, and I put it to you that among the. great things that were learned, one great thing it was absolutely essential-for us to know as soldiers, and equally as civilians, was the value of team work, and of holding together, in that.a man in a regiment, aa long as he does his job, does his duty, and is straight and honourable to his fellows. That was what mattered unselfishness and self-sacrifice, a spirit which we acquired automatically. Whatwe learned was for the good of the regiment and the good of our pals. We understand now that whatever a man's station in life is it does not matter as long as he is straight and honour: able and ,does not let his pals down. It is that spirit—the trench spiritthrough the community that makes a happy country and a happy people. I Know it sounds .idealistic and high falutin' talk,-but that's the spirit of the trenches, and it won us the war and I am sure it is sound'doctrine. By holding together as a body, you carry weight in the community, so I beg you not only to keep up your numbers, but to add to them wherever you:can." His Excellency's concluding words were: 'What I camo here for was to thank you for your courtesy and kindness, and to tell you how happy I am to be associated with you, and to wish every single one of you luck and success in your future life."