FAMOUS N.Z. DIVISION CEASES TO EXIST

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 6, 8 January 1946, Page 5

FAMOUS N.Z. DIVISION CEASES TO EXIST

BRIGADE GROUP LEFT TRIBUTE BY "THE TIMES” Recd. 6 p.m. London, Jan. 6. The famous 2nd. New Zealand Division for all practical purposes has ceased to exist, says "The Times." Except for administrative parties clearing up in Italy and the Middle East, tlie division now consists of a brigade group of about 4000 men, who will be New Zealand’s contribution to the occupation forces in Japan. The cost to New Zealand of the maintenance of the division in the field' of battle from Greece to Trieste has been heavy, says "The Times” special correspondent, commenting on the dissolution of the division. But one valuable legacy for the men of the division is maturity unobtainable save by exceptionally few in so insular a country. Thousands of young men have discovered an understanding both of themselves and those with whom they mixed and fought. Their propagation of the. discovery will be a valuable contribution towards the battle of tiie peace. The burden of casualties will be difficult to sustain, yet in terms of achievement, the cost has not been out of proportion. The division had a due share in silencing the Hitlerian thunder.

Britons never could quite understand how the division could possess discipline, when hilarious privates greeted their commander with the inconsequent name of Tiny,’’ yet when the word passed on that there was a job in hand the division exhibited a dourness of concentration which was quite remarkhrnnLhf 10 3U US t£lSkS the division brought a guinness and determination almost fantastic in its unexpressed intensity it is a matter of pride to know of the division's esteem among the Commonwealth, and especially the people of the United Kingdom. It is also a matter of pride to remember the personal membership of the division. There could be no comparable experience.