Part 3 of 4
Review of the 3rd New Zealand Contingent in Egypt by Mr Anthony Eden, British Secretary of State for War.
Mr Eden addresses the assembled men:
"General Freyberg, Officers, NCOs and men of the 6th Brigade Group New Zealand Division. I want to say to you one special word of welcome because you are the last arrival here to help us in the effort in the Middle East. As you will know, Hitler has failed to gain air superiority in Britain. The many days of hard fighting resulted in such losses to his airforce from our pilots, that he has now ceased to attempt these battles on a large scale. He has to content himself with daily raids with a few machines and night bombing. In that way he can never gain air superiotiy at home. So, baffled in the Battle of Britain, he may turn his attention here to the Middle East. I am glad on behalf of the Government at home and every section of the people in the United Kingdom to welcome you here and to tell you how proud and happy we are to see this third and splendid contingent from New Zealand, and to tell you that we know once your training is complete and you have learned to use the armaments we will put in your hands, that you will prove equal to the splendid traditions of New Zealand military history. No one can pay you a higher compliment than that. Good Luck and God Speed."
This item is part of a collection of recordings made by the Mobile Broadcasting Units, which travelled overseas with New Zealand forces between 1940-1945. They recorded New Zealanders' experiences of war and messages to their families and friends, which were sent back home to be played on a weekly radio programme.