NEW ZEALAND DIVISION

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 September 1945, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND DIVISION

GENERAL MCCREERY’S TRIBUTE

WELLINGTON, September 15. A striking tribute to the fighting qualities of the New Zealand Division is expressed by the commander of the Bth Army, Lieutenant-General Sir Richard McCreery, in a letter to the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser). On behalf of everyone in the ojd Bth Army, General McCreery sends good wishes for the future prosperity of all officers and men of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. “The New Zealand Division played a magnificent part in the final victory, which destroyed the German armies south of the River Po,” wrote General McCreery, from headquarters of the British troops in Austria. “It was a great achievement for the division to lead the assault across the River Senio on the left of the sth Corps on the evening of April 9, and to remain in the lead until Trieste was reached on Mav 2. All ranks of the division, as in the past, showed an outstanding fighting spirit, skill, and endurance. The dash, gallantry, and toughness shown in the crossing of many difficult obstacles during the first 12 days of the battle was splendid and a tribute to the men of New Zealand. “There is no doubt that a great share of the credit for this splendid victory, coming as it did at the end of over four years of hard and difficult fighting for the New Zealand Division, was due to the inspiring leadership of General Freyberg. His unique knowledge of war and his tremendous drive have never been displayed to better advantage. As usual, he was often right up in the lead himself, and it was largely due io this that his leading troops reached Trieste when they did, an event which has since proved to have been of great importance. “On behalf of everyone in the old Sth Army, I send out warmest good wishes for the future prosperity of all officers and men of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. It is splendid that the war against Japan has ended in complete victory so soon after the collapse of the Germans. We have seen mttch evidence, however, in our part of Europe, of the hardships, bitterness, and chaos which war has left behind. Winning the peace will be very difficult in Europe. “After the end of the fighting, the New Zealand soldier, with his comrades in the Bth Army, became a real diplomat, and countless situations which required tactj, patience, and good humour, were settled satisfactorily by your men in Venezia Giulia. We all hope that General Freyberg, now that the fighting is over, may play an equally distinguished part for New Zealand in peace as he did in war.”