GENERAL'S TRIBUTE

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 22612, 18 May 1945, Page 2

GENERAL'S TRIBUTE

SUPPORT OF FRONT LINES COMMUNICATION SERVICES | MEDICAL WORK UNEQUALLED I "At the conclusion of this hard campaign I have the honour to bring to your notice the excellent work done by the administrative service and lines of communication and base units during the whole period of the war,” says Lieutenant-General B. C. Freyberg, V.C., in a report to the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. ; Jones. i “As you will remember, our i original plan was to train in Egypt ! and go to France, transferring our base to Colchester in England. This ' handicapped starting our welfare or- ; ganisations. When France fell we ! developed our base in Egypt and this | meant that our planning for lines of communication was not started until September, 1940. j “In my work here as Commander of the 2nd New Zealand Expedition- | ary Force I have been responsible for the organisation, administration and training as well as command of your force in the field. I have been most fortunate in having Brigadier Stevens, who has proved a most excellent head of the administrative services. His help, and the help of . j all those working under him, and the work of the Medical Services, which are under my direction, have been [of the greatest assistance. Fighting Efficiency “Work at the base and on lines of communication is not spectacular. I feel a debt is owed to all those so i employed. It will not be desirable for me within the limits of a cable to do more than enumerate the various functions performed. * “The keeping of the fighting efficiency of our Division has been a complex problem dependent upon the correct balance of supporting arms, battle-worthiness of the commanders and morale of the fighting forces themselves. War - weariness, however, plays an adverse part toward the end of a long war. At Sidi Rezegh in November, 1941, our men were excellent and although we have never reached a higher standard on the part of the individual soldiers, yet the increased skill and efficiency of our fighting machine enhanced the military value of our organisation. High Standard Maintained “In the opinion of members of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force, and this opinion is borne out by comments from outside sources, the New Zealand Medical Services are without equal. The standard of surgical and medical treatment and administration of hospitals, casualty clearing stations, field ambulances and convalescent depots has been the most important in keeping up the high standard of morale in your force overseas. Personal interest shown by the medical staff has established a sense of confidence in all who have come under their care. “The New Zealand Army Nursing Service has been excellent and the good results achieved have been , largely due to their devoted work. Miss Nutsey was our first principal matron and her excellent work has been continued by her successor, Miss McKay. Support For Nurses “The Medical Division of the New Zealand Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps under Miss King has rendered most valuable support to the Nursing Service.” After referring appreciatively to the work of many other services General Freyberg concludes: “No words of mine can do justice to the great assistance we have all had from Army Headquarters in Wellington. The tone of all our dealings with them has been on a high co-op-erative basis. I personally am most conscious of all I owe to them, in the first case to General Duigan and later to General Puttick and Brigadier Conway. What their help j has meant to me only I can say.”