THANKS TO THE NAVY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 199, 24 July 1941, Page 7

THANKS TO THE NAVY

GESTURE BY N.Z.E.F. PRESENTATION OF CHEQUE. (From the N.Z.E.F. Official News Service.) (Rec. 10 a.m.) CAIRO, July 23. Unique in the history of the Services, a simple ceremony took place on a recent morning when a delegation from the N.Z.E.F. handed over to Admiral Cunningham a cheque for £B2O 11s. The simple and unostentatious ceremony manifested the singularly close ties of friendship binding the members of the two great Services, the Army and the Navy.

This unusual gesture on the part of the N.Z.E.F. was born on the beaches of Greece and Crete, where the cry, “It’s the Navy, boys!” was the clarion call which roused the New Zealanders and gavo them new hope. So gallant, was the action of the Mediterranean Fleet in evacuating New Zealand soldiers under the most terrific bombardment that the soldiers of tha Dominion force later felt obliged to express their gratitude in some tangible form. Tho result was the sul>stantial cheque made up entirely from voluntary subscriptions from all ranks. Another feature of the ceremony itself that lias its own significance was the fact that the cheque was delivered to the hands of the Commander-in-Chief of tho Mediterranean Fleet, not by Major-General Freyl»rg himself or bv a senior commander; it was a private from an ambulance unit who delivered the cheque anil expressed with impressive eloquence tlie gratitude of the 'personnel of the N.Z.E.F. for the. great work of the Fleet in the two campaigns.

Arrangements for the reception of tho New Zealand party were made by the Vice-Admiral commanding a cruiser squadron. They were met on board His Majesty’s ship by the captain. It was apjiropriatc that the ship chosen had several New Zealand ratings in her company. General Frey berg was accompanied by a representative party of officers non-commissioned officers. and other ranks from the N.Z.E.F. units. The naval party comprised personnel from His Majesty’s ship, and officers and five ratings from several oilier vessels. The function took place on the quarter-deck, but was broadcast, throughout the ship. General Freyberg introduced Privale D. W. Sampson, of Christchurch, the soldier who was to hand over the cheque and express the gratitude of the N.Z.E.F. for the line work of the Mediterranean Fleet in the campaigns of Greece and Crete. CAUSE FOR GRATITUDE.

It was because of the deep feelings of gratitude and high admiration that the members of tho N.Z.E.F. had ior the services rendered by the Navy that tho New Zealanders counted it an honour to be able to present tho cheque on behalf of their comrades, said Private Sampson. They were thankful lor convoying the New Zealanders safely from their homeland to the various scenes of action and, in particular, for their association with the Navy in. the evacuations of Greece and Crete.

“It’s all right. The Navy’s here” — words uttered as the German prison ship Altmark was boarded—and Nelson’s famous “England expects . . had come to symbolise the spirit of the Empire and, in particular, the Royal Navy, he added.

“On the beaches of Greece and Crete wc heard those words again as though coming from the shadowy past,” said the speaker. “We heard those same words, filling us with courage and assurance. On board those ships the hospitality was something to be long remembered.”

The manner in which the men ol the Navy went out of their way, even giving np their beds in many cases, to make the New Zealand soldiers comfortable would never bo forgotten. “We understand,” said Private Sampson, “that this money lias been set aside to help the dependants of those of your crews who gave their lives on these dangerous undertakings that we might be brought to safety. To us it gives no small satisfaction that the money should be used in that way. Further, we regret that circumstances make it impossible to arrange a_ gathering of the whole of the N.Z.E.F. at which this presentation could Iks made. You can he assured that the hearts of the men are in this to tho full. "Were they here they would show in a most hearty and boisterous manner just how deeply those feelings run.” Concluding, Private Sampson asked Admiral Cunningham, on behalf of the officers and men of the N.Z.E.F., to accept this sincere token of their appreciation and high admiration of unflinching devotion to duty in times of danger. ANZAC RECALLED. “We are always very glad to see j you on board our ships and only wish ! you would come mure often,” said Admiral Cunningham, extending a welcome to the visitors. “It is just over 2G years ago that the little ship 1 then commanded landed a battalion of New Zealanders at Anzac. Well I remember how much all of us were impressed by them, how we admired them, and what a close friendship there was between our sailors and those fine men.” Admiral Cunningham gave an assurance that the feelings of admiration and friendship entertained in those days were present for those who, he presumed, were the sons or nephews of those men of 2G years ago. Ho even believed those feelings existed to a greater degree. “We followed your doings ill Greece and Crete with interest and admiration. First there .was the heavy fighting against heavy odds, then the arduous and well-conducted retreat and gallant rearguard action, and finally the well-disciplined embarkation and passage to Crete, not without its own particular perils. Again, there was the Rattle of Crete, in which we were able to take part and where you did all that men could do. “These two episodes were, I suppose, failures, but they were glorious failures and 1 believe they will have a material effect on the final outcome of the war, which will he our complete victory.” Reference to the arduous retreat over the mountains to Splmkia, where the troops were taken off, was made by the speaker, ft was the work of the Navy to take those troops off, and it was gladly and proudly done. There was no necessity even for thanks from the New Zealand troops. SPLENDID GIFT. “But now you come forward with this splendid gift to our benevolent fund. When I read the generous terms of General Freyberg’s letter and heard the very handsome and flattering things Private Sampson said, and realised the kindly feeling which prompted the gift., [ at once decided I could do nothing else but accent it on behalf of the Mediterranean Fleet. I do now most gratefully. This sum will l>e sent

to our benevolent fund and we will try to have it earmarked for the benefit of the dependants of those who fell in the evacuation of Greece and the Battle of Crete.

“On behalf of the ships who were privileged to he associated with yon in these operations let me again thank you most gratefully for this very generous gift, the kindly spirit 'which prompted it, and the very kind and handsome words which accompanied it. Wo hope this will not lie the end of our association and that soon we will have men of the N.Z.E.F. on board our ships again—this time steering towards the enemy and to final victory !”

The Now Zealand party were entertained to lunch and a special treat for other ranks was a conducted tour over a submarine.