WHO DID CAPTURE VENICE?

Wanganui Chronicle, 19 September 1946, Page 4

WHO DID CAPTURE VENICE?

THE STORY OF A HOTEL THAT BECAME A N.Z- CLUB Not only was General Sir Bernard Freyberg V.C. noted for his ability in the Held as a tactician, but also for the energy with which he saw to the comfort of his troops when out of the line. “Nothing was too good for the New Zealand Division,” said Mr. C. N. Armstrong, president of the Wanganui R. S. A., welcoming His Excellency at the R.S.A. Club in St. Hill Street yesterday. “And don’t forget the ‘left hook’!” said a voice. “We know all about the ‘left hook' and you can talk about that if you like, but the greatest battle ‘Tiny’ Freyberg ever fought was the battle for the Daniell! Hotel in Venice, when he beat the sth. London Division, kept his troops ahead, fought off everybody, got in and seized the Daniell! and made it a club for the Nev/ Zealanders,” Mr. Armstrong replied. (Laughter and applause). Behind what. Mr. Armstrong was referring to lies a story’, one of those happenings which, not going according to plan, present historians of the future with problems of such great magnitude that they beget grey hairs. Wrapped up in the race for the Daniell! Hotel, one of the linest hotels in southern Europe, is the question of which division actually took Venice—that London Division, which was down in orders to take it, or the New Zealanders that “Tiny” Freyberg ordered should take it. General and Lady. Freyberg spent their honeymoon at the Daniell! Hotel, and when the battle for Italy was shaping its course he found himself with his troops more than “a nose” in front of the London crowd, who were listed by the “higher ups” to capture the city of canals. “Tiny” Freyberg fought off the London leading units, fought through red tape, transport, provost and traffic, and rushed his men into Venice entered the Danielli and then looked round for somebody big enough to shift him. “Tiny,” as he was, evidently nobody was game to try, and the hotel of beloved memory for him became one of the linest clubs for soldiers anywhere in the world—and they were New Zealand soldiers.

It will be a colieague oi General Freyberg’s, General Kippenberger, who will probably have to break the news about who really did capture Venice, but nobody, not even supercritical historians, will be able to upset the fact that the Kiw.s took the Danielli. London can have its Venice; to New Zealand belongs the glory of the Danielli.