THE CAPTORS OF MESSINES

Otago Witness, Issue 3312, 5 September 1917, Page 28

THE CAPTORS OF MESSINES

FIRST NEW ZEALAND INFANTRY BRIGADE. TRIBUTE BY GENERAL GODLEY. WELLINGTON, August 31. Jn the House this afternoon the Minuter of Defence read the following address issued to tli j First New Zealand Infantry Brigade by General Godley on June 15, after th-? battle of Mcssinea: — "To the First New Zealand Infantry Brigade came the honour of capturing- tho key to tho whole position attacked by too Second Army. In this they had succeeded when they captured and consolidated tho black lino forward of Messines. As tney had been the original brigade to leave New Zealand, he had asked General Russell to give them this to do, and they had done it well. He was sure no body of troops could have done the work better or more completely. "Tho dash of the brigade and the manner in which the men had attacked were absolutely all that could be desired, ana he had no hesitation in saying that the battle .of Messines had set tho seal on V/hat t;hey had already done on Gallipoii and the Somme. Their casualties testified to tho severity of the lighting they had to do.

"Ho greatly deplored the loss of their gallant brigadier who was killed at the moment of victory at the head of the brigade ha had so gallantly led to the top of the hill. He was a" groat loss to the forces, and also to New Zealand and tho Empire. There was no finer man. He was sure they all felt how much they had lost in his death and in the deaths of the other brave officers, non-commissioned officers, and men who had fallen in that great victory. *Tn conclusion, ho would like just to tell them how proud" he was to have had a hand in the raising of the First Brigade and in bringing it from New Zealand. He was sure, also, that everyone in New Zealand would be proud to hoar what had been done once more by the original brigade. Personally, he wished to thank them from his heart for what they had done for the corps "