“WISH ME LUCK!”

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20143, 12 January 1940, Page 6

“WISH ME LUCK!”

NEW MARCHING SONG FAREWELL TO TROOPS THIS MORNING'S DRAFT IMPRESSIVE MUSTER “Tipperary” and “The Long, Long Trail,” theme songs of the old New Zealand Expeditionary Force, are sharing honours with a new rival for popularity with Gisborne crowds assembling to farewell men for the new Expeditionary Force. The old songs have lost little of their appeal, but there is a lilt and a topical flavour in the new favourite, “Wish Me Luck!” that suits the spirit of the times. A gathering of hundreds of people, young and old, who turned out early this morning to bid God-speed to the second group of Gisborne and East Coast men for the Second Echelon sang it with gusto, even though the words have not yet gained universal currency. On the march from the Abercorn Hall to Peel street, where the official farewells were said, the draft and their escort marched to it, and as the cars drew away on the road to Wairoa, its goodwill message was again in the ears of the men.

The muster of citizens was even larger for this occasion than on the previous morning, and the march to the I}bel istreet meeting-p'lace was made more impressive by the greater strength of the escort of returned men, The W.E.C.M.R. Band headed the procession once again, and added interest was given by the Gisborne Caledonian Society’s pipe band, which helped to play the column through the streets.

Speakers at the official farewell included Dr. R. M. Gunn, representing the Gisborne Territorial Association, as well as the Mayor, Mr. D. W. Coleman, M.P., and a representative of the Cook County Council and the Returned Soldiers’ Association.

Uncertainty of the Future

The Mayor expressed the appreciation of the citizens of Gisborne to the men who had taken up the responsibility of service, and remarked that it was difficult to find words to express what all would feel in their hearts.

While endeavouring to be as cheerful as possible in the circumstances, he said, one could not help but feel a degree of sadness when one saw the young men who had grown up in the community facing a future so uncertain. However, they could feel proud that the young men had offered their services so freely in this time of trial.

Mr. Coleman reminded his hearers that the war was not of Britain’s seeking, and that whatever might be the shortcomings of the British system of life, the Union Jack was the best flag in the world to live under, as the symbol of liberty and justice such as was found nowhere else.

British institutions were threatened to-day, and though New Zealand’s shores were not directly endangered, it was obvious that whatever happened to Britain would affect New Zealand. If Britain went down, New Zealand would go down too. War a Young Man’s Job

“Major-General Frey berg has told us that this is a young man’s war, and it is encouraging to see what a fine stamp of young men we have volunteering for the job,” added the Mayor. “We are proud of the record made by the New Zealanders of 1914-18. and we feel sure that when your job is done, we will have equal cause to be proud of you.” (Applause.)

Mr. W. G. Sherratt, chairman of the Cook County Council, said that the Mayor had said almost all that he might have said himself, in congratulating the men who had volunteered to serve their country. He too, wished the draft good luck and a safe return.

There was one thing the Mayor had not said, which he thought should be said by someone. It was in reference to the hour at which Gisborne drafts were being sent from their homes to the camps. “If we could arrange to have these functions at a time more suitable, it would remove a serious objection. I hope that we can do better than this,” he concluded. The greetings of the 1914-18 veterans to the new expeditionary force members were conveyed by Mr. W. Oakden, a district executive member. Between Citizens and War “You are going on a hard job, and we believe that you have the stuff to do that job. We cannot go with you, but we know something of your task, and we will visualise the stages of your progress, with a very deep fellow-feeling,” he said. “You are preparing to stand between our families and the worst effects of the war—between our people here and something too horrible to contemplate. Remember wherever you are that the old Diggers' offer of help is not an empty one.” Joining with the other speakers in wishing the men of the draft the best of luck, Dr. R. M. Gunn, for the Territorial Association, declared that this struggle to which the men were going might well be the real war to end war. Their effort would go far towards making war impossible for the future, since the revulsion of opinion which must follow would tend to eliminate, altogether the anachronism of armed, campaigns.

The speeches disposed of, the draft, of about 55 men were loaded immediately into the waiting service cars, and a few minutes were spent in last farewells of a personal nature. Then amidst cheers and the singing of the new theme song of the district troops, the cars pulled out on the first .stage of the journey to Trentham.