WHTEBAIT ON MENU

Grey River Argus, 7 October 1941, Page 1

WHTEBAIT ON MENU

GENERAL FREYBERG. DUNEDIN, October 6. Included among a host of memores of his experiences in the Western Desert, Greece and Crete, a Dunedin Sergeant who returned to his home, suffering from a stomach complaint, haS- many storeis to tell of the New Zealanders’ popular commander, General B. C. Frey.berg, V.C. Having been closely associated with the general in the capicity of virtual personal secretary for six this soldier had ample opportunity oi making close study of the commander. ‘He is a white man, if ever there was one, and in return for his interest in his men he has their full confidence and respect,” said the returned man. “I shall never hear of whitebait fritters without recalling nerl'.Tps the only function held oy the men in the desert that ‘Tiny’ attended,’ the soldier continued. ‘l’.’ w?s. i combined affairs and the Kiwis and Springbok were entertaining one another. ‘Tiny’ came for 10 minutes, but stayed for two hours. He revelled in the boys songs, and espicially asked for an encore of the South Africans’ trek song. He was on the point of leaving and declined to stay for supper until he heard mention of whitebail fr’tters. After supper he sent a special word of appreciation to the cook.' The soldier said the whitebail was a New Zealand canned product ann had been carefully set aside for just such a function. Everyone relished the luxury. This episode inspired reference to another scheme introduced by General Freyberg—an army cooking school. Competitions are regulary conducted among the various camp cooks out in the c.eserl. the soldier said A Dunedin man won with the highest number or points against cooks from Australia, South Africa, Britain and Scotland. “I only once saw the general angry,” the soldier continued. “Lt concerned the fact that the only writing paper made available to the base prison was headed ‘His Majesty's War Prison.’ Because of the letterhead, the boys were loth to write home, but the wrong was soon righted with a few strong words in the right quarters.” The speaker related how General Freyberg would sometimes awaken him late at night, announce himself, and after discussing a few dispatches revTt to any Hi mber ef other su.o < cis (hat had no concern with the war. On sports days, tco, the general enjoyed nothing more than to stand behind a group of barrackers and in the heat of some incident take an opposite tide —“just for devilment.” Often, the soldier said, he saw troops caught off guard in this way, and although they were made to look temporarily foolish, perhaps for answering back in anything.- like the fashion one would be expected to address a general, it was only another of the many sides of his character that encieared General Freyberg to his men. “He never seeks the limelight, and when the history of the war is written there are a few suprises in which General Freyberg will be the central character,” the soldier added. “Lt was an honour and a privilege to work with him. Mrs Freyberg. too, is popular with the soldiers, because shel takes such an interest in all their affairs and especially in their sporting activities.”