General’s Advice to Men

Camp News (Northern Command), Volume 1, Issue 4, 24 May 1940, Page 8

General’s Advice to Men

“ LEAVE SELF BEHIND Stirring Anzac Day Address

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, Lienteriant-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 long afterwards, down on the Rhine when we be being demobilised, I was inspecting 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. NEW CHAPTER OPENED “When you put -your names down for overseas service a new chapter in your life has been opened. You have literally, perhaps unconsciously, dedicated yourself to the service of your country. That is a very serious thing. means this- —that your health, your physical well-being, belongs to your country. It means that your brains belong to your country. See that you

use and develop them for the work hand. Governing those two are those, moral qualities on which youwill’ rely in the long run for victory. “In other words you are going to leave yourselves behind when you go to the war. Your every -act must be done, in the service of your country and you can’t do that unless you have left yourselves behind. One wonders sometimes ' how that comradeship

| which is engendered in war among those who serve. and who share the same hardships and dangers is such a precious thing, a comradeship that takes precedence even in peace time. “At the front you will find that you have, to a large . extent, left yourself behind and that you are free therefore in your friendship and in your work to live on a higher plane altogether. If you can do that you will find that you are gradually acquiring the quiet mind. You will be at peace with yourself, and because you are at peace with yourself you will be at peace with everyone else, but not at peace with evil. “When evil appears, then your true Anzac shoulders his rifle or whatever the means are at his disposal and goes out to fight evil and because he who travels light travels far, leaves himself behind. “Did Private John Smith realise what I intended to convey to him? Did he come back to civil life and carry on that idea of unselfishness or rather selflessness. If you come back from the war and resume your life on the somewhat dusty and humdrum plane or ordinary civil life having left the serener air you will find in the place of danger, then I think it can be truly said of you that you have copied the spirit of Anzac and made it your own.

> ROAD TO VICTORY I “What I have been telling you, of course may be the way to the Cross, but I would add it is assuredly the road to victory. These are not things one wants to talk about, hardly perhaps even think about. They lie deep down in our unconscious being. I feel some diffidence in talking to you in such a strain, but I feel I could not let you _go without some word of : inspiration and it may be a word of help to you in the life which you have immediately in front of you.” At the conclusion of the service all .units present marched past the saluting base on the main eamp road, where General Russell took the salute. The parade was headed by the Band of the sth Infantry Brigade, which is going overseas with the Second Echelon, and marching music was also supplied by the Trentham Camp Band. The total strength of the parade was 1857. It included. Third Echelon officers and ri.c.o.’s attending the Central District School of Instruction and a group of Territorial officers who are attending a week’s drill and duties ; course at '.the camp.