ENVIABLE RECORD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 6 April 1943, Page 4

ENVIABLE RECORD

2nd. NEW ZEALAND DIVISION TRIBUTE IIY MAJOR SKINNER VETERANS OF THE MIDDLE EAST An outline of the exploits of the New Zealand Division overseas during the last three years was given last night in a broadcast from the 8.8. C. by Major t C. F. Skinner, M.C., M.P. tor Motueka, who was recently selected for appointment to the New Zealand Cabinet. Major Skinner had just arrived in Lon- I don from the Middle East He began by praising the magnificent efforts of our men in the present fighting in Tunisia—they had long been a thorn in Hitler’s side. He quoted from an article which had appeared in the London “Evening Standard” and which referred to the way the New Zealand troops had turned the Nazi flank and acted as a vanguard to the advancing Eighth Army. The “Standard” referred to New Zealand as "the mighty atom of the British Empire.” Major Skinner went c i to say that the New Zealand troops were on top of the world to-day. They had confidence in their country, confidence in their leaders. confidence in their equipment, and, above all, confidence in themselves. After the spell they had had in Syria the men had become very fit and had welcomed the chance to try out their anti-tank guns on some real targets.

In the three years it had been away the New Zealand Division had taken part in every campaign in the Middle East. In the early stages of the Egyptian campaign wonderful work had been done by the New Zealanders in keeping up the water supply and in transport and salvage. SIGNIFICANCE OF CRETE A walth of stories could be told of the New Zealanders’ stay in Greece, continued Major Skinner. How happy t they were to be in a country which so much resembled their own. Many of our boys made resolutions to return one

’•»y to that country. Then Crete —what memories of the e ’.dless blitz, of wave after wave of Stukas until the sky was

thick with them—and great troop-car-riers and gliders crashed down, killing every man in them—but still they came. Then the long march over the mountains with hunger and thirst as predominant features. How much New Zealanders owed to Admiral Cunningham and the Navy for the many trips made between Alexandria and the shores of Crete to bring our men back safely.

But the New Zealanders had done their job well. Most of Hitler's welltrained paratroops had been destroyed. The Germans had also lost great numbers of air-borne troops and gliders yjHl'clf'hnd never been replaced. Had it not been for the New Zealanders’ great fstartf : *hi Crete, it might have been an \ask for the Germans to push d-own through Syria and Palestine to Egypt -’itself, where the British Forces were hot very strong, and it might have been easy for them to over-run the whole of Egypt. SYRIA, AND BACK TO EGYPT Then came Syria. The thing which struck our boys in Syria was the number of women and girls engaged in road work. Many women had their babies with them and it was a common sight to see children sleeping by the roadside in tents made by simply sticking two picks in the ground and then hanging a shawl on the handles. Then came the news of Rommel’s drive on Egypt. On 20th June, 1942. the Division took up positions at Mersa Matruh. The next day the battle began—General Freyberg was wounded and the New Zealanders were surrounded. But the New Zealanders lined up their vehicles and charged through the g:.p—the Germans thought they were mad —but they got through. In July came El Alamein with terrific fighting in dust and heat—attack and withdrawal—but at last Rommel was halted. THE GREAT TEST In September our boys rested on the shores of the Mediterranean. Then came more training at El Alamein. New tanks, guns and equipment began to arrive. They had never seen so much equipment. The attack began on 23rd October. On 3rd November Rommel’s lines broke and he began his retreat through Libya. When the boys celebrated Christmas welcome mail and

seasonable food were brought from Alexandria. The transport had done a great job.

There was never any doubt in the minds of the New Zealanders that they would reach Tripoli. They had the knowledge that they had met and beaten Rommel's panzers before and there were no better desert fighters than the 2nd New Zealand Division. Wherever they had gone our boys had always played the game, concluded Major Skinner.