MAJOR HARVEY TURNER

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 4555, 5 March 1942, Page 4

MAJOR HARVEY TURNER

SPLENDID SERVICE TO TROOPS (N.Z.E.F. Official News Service) Warm tributes were paid to the work of Major Harvey Turner, manager of the New Zealand Forces Club, when members of the staff met recently to farewell him. Major Turner, who has been in charge of the club for the past year, is returning to New Zealand after resigning for reasons of health. Major-General Sir. B. Freyberg, V.C., etc., G.0.C., 2nd N.Z.E.F., expressed his appreciation of the invaluable work Major Turner had done. The G.O.C. said he was glad he could be present, as there were words that should be said that could only be said by him. “I think it was on 2nd January, 1940, when I was in New Zealand that Major Turner came to sec me in Wellington," continued the General "He then said to me. ‘1 am a business man and a busy oue, but if ever you find that you have a job for me overseas 1 would be only too glad to come out and serve as my contribution during this war.’ I made some discreet inquiries and as a result put his name down for future reference."

“At the beginning of the war," adued General Freyberg, “we had planned to have our base camp at ■"’olchister in England, and we had plans for a club there and in London -But all this changed, and our base camp had to be in Egypt. When we decided to have a club of our own here, we had to lind a manager, so I cabled asking if Mr Turner could be sent over. This was agreed to. “The club has been one of the things in which I have been interested. I am certain that from every point of view this club is second to none, We give the best value to our troops, and indeed to the Services as a whole, of any club in the Middle East. This is not to me. It is due entirely to Brigadier Falconer and to the club management as conducted by Major Turner. From small beginnings the club has grown until it is a firstclass business with every branch perfectly organised. The Government auditors gave the management a firstclass certificate and described the organisation as a model of how a business should be conducted.

"I want to pay tribute to Major Turner for laying the foundations of what I consider to bo the best institution I have ever seen run for servicemen. Major Turner has given 12 hours a day for a year and is going homo now because he has worked himself out. I shall always feel for him a great debt of gratitude for what 'he has done for the N.Z.E.F. and I want him to realise how grateful we are.” In making two presentations on behalf of the staff, Lady Freyberg said it had been a great pleasure to work with Major Turner and watch the club grow under his wise and skilful ad ministration.

Replying, Major Turner said that when he arrived from New Zealand

he had the idea he was going to some job in A.S.C. He ended up at the club

however, and from the first had received every assistance from Brigadier Falla, Brigadier Falconer, Lady Freyberg and the General himself. The staff had always worked loyally. Major Turner thanked the W.W.S.A. and voluntary workers, who, he said, had given the club a tone it had not had before.