A Personal Message to Every Soldier

Camp News, Volume 1, Issue 10, 16 February 1940, Page 2

A Personal Message to Every Soldier

From

Col. R. A. Row

D.S.O. Commanding Central Military District

Other writers have expressed, through the columns of “Camp News”,” the necessity for a steady flow of recruits to maintain the 2nd N.Z.E.F. which is to serve overseas in the cause of democracy. There is no need to refer to the reasons that have brought about this second great conflict in which we are involved. Nor is it necessary to refer to the duty able-bodied men owe to the country and Empire in which they live. So far, you have done your duty by volunteering to serve your King and New Zealand wherever you are required, but it is now your further duty to make 'yourselves efficient soldiers. It is all too common nowadays for people to express opinions on subjects of which they have very little or no knowledge, and it has been frequently said that a soldier can be fully trained in a few weeks. This is wrong, as no doubt most of you are now realising. Although the army of to-day is an army of specialists, the foundation of training is and z always will be discipline. The efficiency of units is in direct relation to the standard of discipline, and, what is most important, the casualty lists of units bear a definite relationship to their standards of efficiency. The opinion has often been expressed that had the Ist New Zealand Infantry Brigade in 1915, when it landed on Gallipoli, been trained to the same standard of efficiency as the New Zealand Division in France in the later years of the Great War, the casualty lists would have been halved. With that opinion I entirely agree. Discipline is the foundation of efficiency, and efficiency means fewer casualties. Your . training in Trentham is your preliminary training in preparation for the advanced work you- will be given overseas. See to it that the foundation is sound, because on that sound foundation—for which, at times, the training may seem irksome—the final efficiency of your unit depends, and I.repeat, on that efficiency, the casualty lists. To officers I would say this: You carry a heavy responsibiliity—the lives of the men you command. A mistake on your part, or hesitancy in a critical situation, may mean the loss of valuable lives. This is largely a matter of training, and it behoves you to take advantage of every opportunity offered to improve your knowledge of the art of war. Officers are also directly responsible for the welfare of their men, and it is a matter of honour with officers worthy of their commissions that the welfare of their men come before any thought of them selves. Their motto is “Selfishness.” Without thorough training an officer cannot do justice to the men he commands. The principles of war are the same to-day as in the days of Hannibal, but the application of those principles and the tactical handling of troops and weapons both in and out of battle have changed very considerably and are subject-matters for much intensive study before an officer is capable of doing his duty to the men he commands. In conclusion, a soldier s life is a real man’s life, demanding and bringing out all the very best in a -tolerance, leadership, endurance, courage, consideration for others, and giving m return true comradeship, such is very seldom experienced in civil life, and adventure. My advice to you young soldiers is at all times to do youi jobs cheerfully and to the best of your abilty whatever job that may be. Be loyal to your comrades and your unit, play the game, and always remember you represent New Zealand.