FINE CHARACTER

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21634, 10 February 1945, Page 2

FINE CHARACTER

GOOD FIGHTING ABILITY N.Z. FORCES’ REPUTATION (P.A.) AUCKLAND. Feb. 10. /Die reputation for fine character and fighting ability of New Zealand's armed forces was emphasised i>v Mr. Robert Laidlnw. general maine’er of the Farmers' Trading Company, on his return to Auckland afier six years' absence. For five and a-half years Mr. Laidlaw served in a voluntary capr. -itv ii Britain. France and Belgium with'the Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Christian Association. “Wherever I went I found that the leputation for splendid character built lip by the New Zealanders in the last war had been fully maintained by our present fighting men,” said Mr. Lnidlaw, who mentioned that a British major who went through the fighting from El Alamein to Tunisia had told him he placed the New Zealanders at the top as tire finest fighting men. with the British Tommies a close second. Paying a tribute to the people of Britain, Mr. Laidlaw said that after five and a-half years of bombing, heavy taxation, rationing, black-out restrictions, and long working hours, there was no let-up in the people’s Ppjpvn-iinatien to see it through to complete victory whatever further Ltirusnip that might involve.