TROOPS DEPART

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 281, 10 March 1941, Page 5

TROOPS DEPART

RETURN TO CAMP ' LEAVE ALL TOO SHORT On Saturday morning the Whakatane members of the Fifth Reinforcements left on their return to • camp after a leave which to those : at, home and to the men seemed indeed very short. During their week at home the men did not have a dull moment, family gatherings, private parties and public functions having been arranged to fully occupy their time and as one . man in khaki said, it seemed that ■ the most Strenuous part of his training was his leave. The men appeared to have a very ' happy time and the families and friends were pleased indeed to see them all looking so fit and cheerful, • and this week will no doubt appear exceptionally quiet without the i groups with figure a man in seen at inter- - vals and pracFicalfy continuously in the business area. Scene at Railway There was .1 huge crowd of both Pakeha and Maoris at-the railway station when the men entrained on : Saturday morning and to lusty cheering and the singing of ma,r-< shal airs and "Auld Lang Syne" the train steamed cut. Large quantities of provisions had been takjenl " by parents and friends and the men were laden with eatables for the journey; On the train were t about 80 men from further down the coast and their voices swelled- • the cheering - and singing and joined generally in bidding of farewell messages.