“BOOTS AND ALL”

Evening Star, Issue 23657, 17 August 1940, Page 12

“BOOTS AND ALL”

N.Z.'S FIGHTING MOTTO (From the Official War Correspondent attached to the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force.) An English Camp, June 22. “ Boots and all,” slangy, but expressive, is to be the’lighting motto of the sth New Zealand Infantry' Brigade. The method of its selection was perhaps not strictly in accord with the War Office way of doing such things, but the phrase has caught the imagination of all ranks, and was, moreover, lifted straight out of a speech by the brigadier.

When returning thanks for the message .of welcome received aboard ship from His Majesty the King, Brigadier J. Hargest asked that with the thanks there should be . conveyed to ( His Majesty an assurance of the troops’ devoted loyalty and of their eagerness to come to grips with the enemy as soon as they were sufficiently trained. The sooner the better in their view, and then they would be into it—if he might use a colonialism, said the brigadierboots and all. it greatly pleased the boys to find one of the more responsible London newspapers seizing upon this phrase to epitomise their spirit and determination, the more so when the frontier papers were playing up the “luxury cruise aspect of our voyage. For the time being we have done with luxury, there is stern work ahead, and hard preparation needed. So “ Boots and all it is to be from now until the job is done.