SURPRISE VISIT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 263, 27 January 1941, Page 5

SURPRISE VISIT

FIFTH REINFORCEMENT MEN

LOCAL BOYS FIRST LExYVE

A pleasant surprise awaited parents and lriends of men now in camp with lhe fifth reinfarcejments who last Saturday arrived by special bus from Papakura. The full party numbered) over thirty and as a result of many happy re-unions and gatherings throughout the district. The leave was all the more enjoyable in view of that until the, last moment the men had been led to believe that owing to distance it would be impossible for them to take advantage of the general breaking up of camp for the week-end. The party arrived in Whakatane shortly after six o'clock on Saturday evening and left the following day in the late afternoon. The men were in high spirits and in spite of travelling some 270 miles declared that short as the leave was it was} well worth the trip. It is interesting to gather from those who arrived here on Saturday the general impression of the conditions ruling in the camp. Without exception all men stated that they were enjoying the training and feeling as fit as fiddles. In the words of one young recruit from the plains, camp life would do him for good if he had his choice. Tucker, lie said, was plain but good and the best part of it all was that there was ample supply for everyone. Mlany of the men were hard to recognise in their uniforms, and it was surprising to note the ready made military bearing which was apparent in more than one. It is anticipated that the success of the first week-end leave will prelude several other ventures of a similar nature, the arrangements for the long distance bus having been apparently satisfactorily negotiated with the authorities. It is known that in all some forty men from Whakatane and the Rangitaiki Plains arc in training at Papakura, the figure adding substantially to the six hundred who have already left this district for service with- Ihe New Zealand Forces overseas.