VICTORIA CROSS WINNER

Waikato Times, Volume 132, Issue 22155, 29 September 1943, Page 3

VICTORIA CROSS WINNER

LINKS WITH NEW ZEALAND ( Special Cnr"osD f indPfit) (Received Sept. 29. noon) LONDON, Sept. 28 General Carton de Wiart. V.C., who figured in the Italian armistice talks after being a prisoner for two years, called on Mr W. J. Jordan, High Commissioner for New Zealand.

General de Wiart recalled being taken a prisoner with Brigadiers Hargest and Miles and Bishop Gerrard. He told Mr Jordan that he had the highest regard for them, and referred to Brigadier Hargest affectionately as “Old Jim.” General de Wiart also recalled his associations with other New Zealanders, including Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Porritt and Mr P. S. Falla, son of Brigadier N. S. Falla. He met Mr P. S. Falla, who was a member of the Diplomatic Service in Warsaw prior to its capture, early in the war.

Thereupon Mr Jordan telephoned Brigadier Falla, who called in at New Zealand House and met General de Wiart and told him that his son is now in Teheran. General de Wiart was interested to learn that Brigadier Hargest was returned unopposed in the general election and that Mr Jordan had cabled Brigadier Hargest the election results to Switzerland. General de Wiart said he could only guess the present position of New Zealander prisoners in Italy. He imagined that when the Italians opened the camps those who were fit make every effort to link up with the Allied forces, and possibly were aided by the Italians.