General’s Advice to Men

Camp News, Volume 1, Issue 21, 3 May 1940, Page 6

General’s Advice to Men

“LEAVE SELF BEHIND” At Trentham, on Anzac morning, nearly 2000 soldiers who are going away to a new war assembled on parade to join in the national remembrance of the men who fell a quarter of a century ago. An address was given by Major-General Sir Alexander Russell, K.C.8., K.C.M.G., who commanded the Ist New Zealand Division. Other . visitors present included Major-General R. Young, former General Officer Commanding the New Zealand Forces, and Colonel C. G. Powles, C.M.G., D.S.O. (retired list). The senior officers on parade included Colonel R .A. Row, D. 5.0., Officer Commanding the Central Military District, with his General Staff Officer, Lientenant-Colonel E. M. Foster, N.Z.S.C., Lieutenant-Colonel H. D. McHugh, M.C., N.Z.S.C., Camp Commandant, Trentham Military Camp, and Colonel A. E. Conway, N.Z.S.C., Director of Mobilisation, Army Headquarters, Wellington.

The parade was held in the Trentham racecourse grounds and was commanded by Colonel J. Hargest, D.S.O. M.C. The service was read by Padre J. Hiddlestone, senior chaplain, Central District Mobilisation Camp.

“The last time I had occasion to speak to a body of men like you in uniform was two or three days after the Armistice when the whole division paraded to render thanks to the Almighty for the end of the war,” said General Russell. “That was, so to speak, the end of a chapter, but in the world’s history it was only the turning over of a leaf. Not Jong afterwards, down on the Rhine when we be being demobilised, I was insnecting a Rifle Brigade Battalion. Going down the ranks I spoke to a man —we will call him Private John Smith—and I said ‘What about the Armistice; it’s a good thing, isn’t it?’ There was a broad grin on his face. I said, ‘You know this war is over, but you are going back home to fight another war in which there is no armistice. You are going to fight against yourself.’ I will return to Private John Smith directly.