INDELIBLE HEROISM

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 135, 9 May 1945, Page 5

INDELIBLE HEROISM

THANKS FOP- VICTORY

SIR C. NEWALL'S SPEECH

(Press Assn.) WELLINGTON, May 9 In his speech at the VE-Day celebrations at Government Buildings at noon today, the Governor-Gen-eral (Sir Cyril Newall) said: "We are assembled on this momentous occasion to join together with every man, woman and child throughout New Zealand in thanksgiving to Almighty God for our survival.

"We rejoice as a people because the unconditional surrender of Germany is noiv achieved and the war in Europe has ended. The deeds of the men and women of New Zealand during the war years on the battlefields throughout the world, on land, at sea and in the air, and of all those who have worked for the war in the Dominion have made history and won the unstinted admiration of all the free peoples. "On this day of victory we remember and wo honour those who have given their lives in battle, sympathising deeply with the bereaved. We pay a high and grateful tribute to the valour of those who have defended us, our country, and everything in civilisation which we value and cherish. Let us rejoice and give thanks for the relief from the terrible anxiety endured so long with patient fortitude by many thousands.

"This celebration of the final defeat of Germany, together with the indelible ..heroism and sacrifice of men and women from New Zealand

and the Empire and of our allies, will inspire us to turn with renewed energy and determination to the'next paramount task, which is to conquer the Japanese as we have the Germans;

"T have sent the following'message to His Majesty the King from the people of New Zealand: 'On this historic day, when after more than five years of bitter warfare the enemy tones in Europe have surrendered unconditionally to the Allied arms, we in this ever loyal Dominion of New Zealand rejoice with Your Majesty's peoples throughout ho world and thank God for the continued safety and wellbeing of Your Majesty and the Queen and the members of the Royal Family. Throughout the long and grim struggle we have ever been conscious of Your Majesty's example of service and fortitude, which has stood out as a beacon of encouragement to us all in these distant parts of Your Majesty's Realm. Once again we reaffirm our unswerving loyalty to Your Majesty's person and Throne and our determination to continue the fight until final victory over the Japanese is achieved and the yoke of oppression is lifted from the whole world'."