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Documents Relating to New Zealand's Participation in the Second World War 1939–45: Volume III

435 — Special Order of the Day by Major-General Barrowclough to 3rd New Zealand Division

435
Special Order of the Day by Major-General Barrowclough to 3rd New Zealand Division

Manurewa

19 October 1944

The greater part of 2 NZEF IP has now been dispersed in one way or another and the 3rd New Zealand Division Headquarters will page 457 cease to function as from 1700 hours on 20 October 1944. The manner of our dispersal has unfortunately prevented me from speaking personally to more than a handful of you and I am unable to say goodbye except through the medium of this special order. Even that will fail to reach many of those to whom I would have wished to speak.

I want to tell you how proud I have been of the Division and the whole of its Base organisation. It was not my privilege to command the Force from its inception nor to have any part in its initial training. It was my good fortune to command it when the supreme test of battle tried out the value of that initial training and I am eternally indebted to Generals Cunningham and Mead and to all of you for the fine spirit and stern discipline which was so manifestly engendered in the early days of your existence. A commander owes everything to his troops. His own reputation depends so utterly and entirely on their behaviour in action. I very gratefully acknowledge your courage and devotion to duty and the uniformly high standards you established in the performance of every task it was my duty to call upon you to peform.

For most of you the war is not yet over and your services may be required in another theatre. It is a matter for regret that this further service will not be with the Division nor with the units for which we have so warm a love and regard. This is as inevitable as it is regretful. I know, however, that you are qualified to take your place in any formation to which you may be posted and that you will serve therein with credit to yourselves and to your new units. My own interest in ex-members of 3rd NZ Division and its ancillary services will never wane and I shall regard it as my pleasing duty to further your interests in any way I can. I wish you the best of good fortune—for the rest of the war and afterwards.

H. E. Barrowclough

,

Major-General,
goc 3rd new zealand division