Those War Books

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXIV, Issue 129, 5 November 1930, Page 7

Those War Books

CONDEMNED BY COL. GAMBRILL

RETURNED SOLDIER’S PROTEST

Scathing reference to the epidemic of “war books” and the distorted pictures painted in some of them of life at the front was made by LieutenantColonel R. F. Gambrill, Officer Commanding the Hawke’s Bay Regiment, at an R.S.A. reunion at Gisborne, last week. “When I remember having read ‘All Quiet on the Western Front,’ ” he said, “I don’t know that it is a big honour presiding over this function. You’re drunken soldiery, you’re moral lepers —so Mr Remarque tells us. He was there —18 miles behind the lines, on the other side. But you’re good enough, for me; We can only lodge our protest, and meantime those lucky authors will pay supertax on the profits made out of the sacrifices of our men. We’ve got to come home and sit quiet while those blighters make light of us. People read these books and brand us accordingly, and for the sake of those who went West it is up to us to protest.” Colonel Gambrill’s remarks were greeted with loud applause.