GENERAL GODLEY

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 32, 7 February 1935, Page 6

GENERAL GODLEY

R.S.A. FUNCTION

A .typical "Digger" welcome was given to their old commander, Genelal Sir Alexander Godley, G.C.8., •K.C.M.G., by the Wellington returned men in the Masonic Hall last night. The reception was arranged by the Wellington Returned Soldiers' Association, 'and there was an excellent muster of "Diggers." Colonel A. Cowles presided. During the evening, the Hon. W. Perry, M.L.C., presented General Godley with the gold badge of the as* sociation. The programme for the evening was supplied by members of the Tin Hat Club, and thOde who contributed to it are to^be congratulated'on their efforts. It started off with community singing of war songs, which no doubt 'Carried, the, minds of the men back to v. similar occasions in perhaps less congenial surroundings twenty years ago. ' "" ♦ Colonel Cowles extended a hearty welcome to the General. The Returned Soldier^ Association, he said,'existed mainly for the purpose of helping exsoldiers who had fallen on evil times, securing benefits for those permanently incapacitated in mind or body, watching the interests of widows and . other dependants of soldiers who lost 'theirjives during the war or who had died since the war'as1 a result of war injuries. It strived,' also, ,to perpetuate the spirit of comradeship and •mutual support engendered'during the tragic years of the war. and to ]keep' <v..-->aljve the spirit of love ■of . country t and* loyalty to the King. The associa* took under its wing 'all soldiers ;'<■ and sailors, irrespective of'their ori- *; Sinai domicile, who fought. in any '■ war waged by the Crown. \ , p>, . FORGED A SPEARHEAD. A\l Under General Godley's command . ~';( the citizen soldiery of New Zealand '. v ''fwas trained in military arts, and or- ,"< gamsed into a mobile fighting' force '■■■ adaptable to any turn of affairs, said - Colonel Cowles. Under him it took -'. ; the field and proved worthy of its , r-jcountry and the cause for which it ' 1 ifought General .Godley forged a ~ whlctt pierced the German • -'jarmour, a spearhead whose point was 'jnever'tumed and the temper of whose '1 was never losr. . The Wellington represented soldiers of all ,; pranks Tesident in the Wellington area, ' yand 'from them he conveyed to Gene- ■« vfal ..Godley their appreciation of, and i*;1 thanks for, the great work which he ,'■ ;did.Siri training?before the war, his .','.' leadership during the war, and his • 'keen-interest'ln the welfare of solv since the ,war.- ----■ < v "We trust that every good fortune .' »;may follow Lady Godley and yourself <; Jand that you may'live long to enjoy ; jthe honour you-' have so richly - said Colonel Cowles «in con/\t elusion.''. ■ ,/'.• .:f In presenting the, guest of honour j .vwith'thegold-badge of the association, • '^Mr; Perry said He was sure the gather- ■ 'ing reminded the~ General of old times, ■ times which began twenty years ago. " "Mr, Perry recalled that sometime between 1910 and 1914 General' Godley was Chief Savage of, the Wellington Savage Club.' 'The'y f could almosflook > upon him as''being first' In peace,'first •'in war, and first ia the hearts of his countrymen. 1 , Mr. Perry mentioned that,rarely..was 1 the gold badfee presented, and^he read out the names' of those on-whom the honour hafl been conferred. These were the prince of Wales (life patron of the association), the Duke of York, Admiral Jellicoe, General Pau,' FieldMarshal Viscount "Allenby, shal Birdwood, General Sir Charles Fergusson, Major-General Sir-Andrew Russell, Major-General Sir George 1 Richardson, j Major-General R, Young, Brigadier-General Hart, Colonel Stewart,'the Rt 'Hon. J. G. Coates, MajorGeneral B. CFreyberg, the late .Major E.A. Boxer.and Captain Harrison. NEW, ZEALANDERS' REPUTATION. Replying, General Godley commenced by referring to all those pres«ftjt as comrades. "I am a returned soldier of New Zealand," he said. "I took a'damn long time -to return, but I- returned as soon as possible." But 'for thefact that he was fully engaged after.the war, he might have returned sooner. He felt very much at home in New Zealand, particularly when among the.cbmrades of, the New Zealand Expeditionary Force.- The N.2.E.F. was a wonderful force, and it, came 4o France with a reputation to be v proud of. The General'held the attention of , those present with war reminiscences sand raised outbursts'of laughter by reflating humorous incidents which occurired during the days "over there." He {.remarked that it was wonderful to sing again the happy songs that helped to buoy-up -the spirits of ,the, soldiers during-the dark days of the war. \ When he left England he was asked '7 by'imany well-known men who had '\ .been; associated with the New Zea--landers to express their best wishes to Uhe ,'piggers" he met. Everybody had ' .-.a warm affection for New <Zealanders, and none more' so than Sir lan Hamilton., "On .Gallipoli Peninsula," said General Godley, "Sir lan had bad luck, and was made a scapegoat, but he has a toarm corner in his heart for New Zealanders The, spirit of Anzac is vety strong in Australia,*and very strong in this country, and it is a spirit which everybody hopes will last for -all time." The New Zealanders* reputation as soldiers and men ranked high amongst those with whom they had come in contact. ' - • ■■ General Godley. paid a glowing tribute to the work of the Returned Soldiers* Association'1 in the Dominion, and said that the institution was very lucky to-have a man like Major-Gen-eral Sir Andrew Russell as its leader. He thanked the association for the honour it had conferred upon him by .presenting him with its gold badge. "It .cements my New Zealand soldiership .<and comradeship, and makes me one iof you," he said. "I am proud indeed 'to wear it along with other decorations I have earned during the course of my long military career. .There is ; irio'badge of which I will be more proud." - In conclusion, General Godley paid a tribute to the men who never came back, and said that memories of them would be evergreen. At the conclusion of the General's speech, those present sang "For He's " a Jolly Good Fellow." '- s Fpll6wlng .further musical items, eupperwas served. Thosewho contributed to the musical programme were Messrs. P.Histed, A. \ > Alston, C. Burridge, S. R. O'Connell, • and the Tin Hat Club Orchestra, under c - ,the baton of Mr. P.' Cole. Mr. G. T. Dalton acted as accompanist. Prior to attending the R.SA. reception, General Godley visited the headquarters of the South African War v l Veteran*. He was met by Mr. J. I. Goldsmith (president), Captain Bishop (treasurer), and Mr. J. H. E. Tilling (secretary), and inspected the mementoes, curios, and photographs in pos•esalon of the association.