Freyberg, Very Famous

Soldier, to Be G.G. in N. Zealand

ALTHOUGH the New Zealand Gov ernment departed far from prece dent in asking Whitehall to make a “Colonial Commoner” Governor-General of New Zealand, the appointment of General Sir Bernard Freyberg, VC, DSO and Bar (3 times), has been warmly acclaimed by all classes. He has as many scars as decorations —he has been wounded 14 times.

The new appointment is of interest to the Pacific Islands because Sir Bernard now becomes the titular head of Western Samoa, Cook Islands and Niue. His is a career so packed with adventure, colour and romance that it is unique.

He is a New Zealander —although born in London, in 1889, he arrived in'Wel lington at the age of two. His parents made a dentist of him: but, as a very young man, he was off across the world, seeking adventure.

Going to Mexico, he fought with or against Pancho Villa (he refuses to say which) and when World War I started he won enough money in a San Fran cisco swimming contest to pay his fare to London and join up.

He fought as a lieutenant in the battle which checked the Germans near Ant werp, and later was transferred to Galli poli.

There he performed one of the most famous exploits of the war. swimming two miles across the Gulf of Saros at night with a raft of flares, which he lit on the beach to mislead the Turks. He got the DSO for that; and, a little later, in France, he won the VC.

He remained with the British Army after 1918. When World War II began he became leader of the New Zealand forces in the Mediterranean area, and rendered most distinguished service. He collected his last wound in Italy in 1944.