DISTINGUISHED SERVICE

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 24, 29 January 1935, Page 13

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE

GENERAL GODLEY AT NELSON

WELCOME TO CITY

(By Telegraph) 'Special to tho "Evening Post.") NELSON, This Day. Warm tributes to General Sir Alexander Godley's military record and command of the New Zealand Forces were paid at the civic reception tendered him last evening by the Mayor, Mr. W. J. Moffatt, who said, though the visitor was not a New Zealander, his uncle, the late Mr. J. B. Godley, was one of the founders of Canterbury, and this, added to his wonderful service prior to the war and as commandant of the Now Zealand Forces during the war, made all feel that he was one of themselves. Mr. Moffatt extended a warm welcome on behalr of the city. ' Councillor F. Huggins, who served on General Godley's headquarters staff during the war, said that he was always impressed with"the confidence and respect in which he, had been held by liis officers. General Godley's record as corps commander would stand comparison with that of any other leader in the Great War. . Councillor Huggins referred to an incident to which little reference had been made, General- Godley's transference to the- Fifth French Army prior to the second Battle of the Marne, and tho distinguished service he gave there. Councillor S. H. Moynagh paid a further tribute to General Godley's service. He said that he had commenced his soldiering in the same regiment as General Godley, the Eoyal Dublin Fusiliers. Captain C. E. Duko, president of the Returned Soldiers' Association, who served in the Australian Imperial Forces, in lighter mood said that ho could solve tho matter of the New Zealanders' doubling in Egypt. The explanation was that he had the example set by the Australians and wished tho New Zealanders to be kept up to that standard. Captain Duke paid a tribute to the visitor's service in Gallipoli, where he took chances, along with all other ranks. Another thing New Zealanders were proud of General Godley for was his Tcccnt stout defence of Earl Haig against unwarranted criticism. Mr. Herbert Everett, chairman of the Waimea Power Board, spoko Of the distinguished service of their guest at Gallipoli and in Franco, and referred to the generous service rendered by Lady Godley in Egypt. Replying, Sir Alexander Godley said that ho always remembered the generous support found in Nelson when he was organising universal training. Colonel Pftt had been a keen Volunteer and tho Tenth Nelson Mounted Rifles and tho Twelfth Nelson and Marlborough Regiment had been formed on a Sunday after a service at the Cathedral. Ho was pleased to see hanging there threo flags, which were flown by the H.M.S. Queen at the landing at Gallipoli and by two cruisers. Reforring to tho New Zealanders' long marches in the desert, General Godley smilingly said that ho would not take the reference lying down. He reminded returned men • that it was not infrequent to sco some of them making for Cairo on tho very nights after the marches.