FATHER TO THE MEN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20137, 5 January 1940, Page 5

FATHER TO THE MEN

GENERAL FREYBERG GREAT WAR SERVICE H.B. MAN’S MEMORIES One of the returned soldiers who renewed his acquaintance with MajorGeneral B. C. Frey berg, V.C.. in Wellington on New Year's Day was Petty Officer A. IVI. Pryde, Hastings, who was awarded the Military Medal in the same engagement as that in which the commander of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force won the V.C. The occasion was early in November, 1916, when tire Royal Naval Division was stationed at Ancre. France. After their return from the Dardanelles “Hood's," the division was called, was given the formidable task of capturing the town of Beaucourt. Adi- U^A

vancing to the outskirts, they held their position for more than two days, despite the failure of the troops on the left flank to gain their objective. On the third morning the town was captured under the direction ol Colonel Frcybcrg after severe hand-to-hand fighting. When the "Hoods” were later relieved only 12 men of the whole division were unwounded. Haig’s Praise General Sir Douglas Haig recorded his praise with the following words: "Your division is the only division since the advance began in France that has advanced so far in one day and taken so many prisoners, who included two major-generals.” Colonel Freybevg was wounded on the first day of the engagement but maintained his command. When lead- ! ing his sadly-depleted band in the final : onslaught he was again wounded, this time severely, but continued to rally 1 his men. After the capture of Beau- : court he was promoted brigadiergeneral and his old command was taken over by Colonel A. M. Asquith, son of the famous Prime Minister, who * eventually was awarded the D. 5.0., and also promoted to the rank of brigadier-general. Petty Officer Pryde recalls that the t men called their commander "Paddy.’ , “He was a real father to the men in i the ranks. He never asked them to

LUG KinivJ. do what he would not do himself, and he was a most understanding and considerate officer, ’ he said.