EXPERIENCES OVERSEAS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 297, 23 April 1941, Page 8

EXPERIENCES OVERSEAS

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ADMIRATION FOR BRITISH

Arriving back in New Zealand with other invalided soldiers, Sapper V. Hayward!, of Whakatane, ifn an interview with a BEACON representative has a . wealth of interesting experiences to relate, and outstanding in his remarks was 'his admi;ra u tion for the people of Great Britain. "They get it, they take it and they dish it out," he saidi, adding that an air raid wa!s taken merely as a matter of course. ; No Panic. "One sees no panic no matter how severe the raids," hei said, going on to relate an incident revealing the wonderful courage displayed. "I was on my bike passing through a quarter of London when a street was bombed," he said. "We went for an ambulance and took a victim to tine hospital after which we returned to help others. An eld woman saw us after the cleaning up was done and, saying . that we should be ready for a cup of tea, just calmly lit the stove with remnants of her house." Business as Usual. Continuing Sapper Hayward stated that when the "blitz" started, for the first few days people closed everything down, but shortly gave up doing so and "business as usual" was adopted as a general slogan. They felt that they were playing into Hitler's hands to hold up geneial routine and at times it was' liard to realise that there Avas a Avar on. "Apart from empty sections where buildings had bqen hit by bombs, it was hard to know there had been a raid twenty-four hours after the "slioav" was over," lie said. "I saw ■one delicatessen shop proprietor gathering up stock Avhich had been blown in all directions by a bomb, and replacing it in the remains! of the premises, while after another particularly severe attack I saw, two hours afterwards, a radio dlealcr calmly selling radios as if in ignorance that his window was blown out and his shop roofless.

"Shopkeepers no longer endeavour to keep plate glass in their windows. They fit wire netting and ■when closing put shutters up," he stated adding that the blast from bombs too often broke the windows. Blackpool Left Alone. Stating that most of the; troops liked to spend leave in Scotland or in Blackpool, the returned man said the latter was popular because in that town one would not know there was a war on. "That is_ the training headquarters for the R.A.F" he said, "aind the defence is so good that the Huns ara not game to tackle it. Only about one bomb has been dropped on Blackpool since the war started." Sees the Blitz. The eichelon, of which Sapper Hay ward was a member, arrived in England just before the start of the main German air attack and he said on the day that 185 German planes were brought down the sky was Taining bombs and destroyed aircraft. "You can see a dog-fight at any time, and our boys have definitely proved too good for Gerry in the air. The Germans will tackle a Spitfire or another of our fighters only if they greatly outnumber it— the R.A.F. does all the attacking and one of our planes is equal to five Huns.

Good Odd's. •"Five to one is considered good odds by our pilots, avlio think then they have a good chance. They will take on more but reckon they have a good show at one against the live Jerries,; and believe me the opposition knows it and doles not wait" That unless our pilots were injured or machine "gunned while in the parachute they ~wei*e soon on the job again. "They are not down long before they have another 'plane and are away looking for the chap t'hat shot them down." Murdering Methods. In reply to a question Sapper Haywarc? staled that the Germans would machine gun pilots as they descended by parachute. "Anything aliva is their target," he said. "1 have seen children machine gunned by Hun pilots."

Hitler' 3 Propaganda.

Further questions elicited the information that while despatch riding the returned man had had the pleasure of "collecting" several Germans who had. been shot down. He; said that they offered no resistance and spoke English quite well.

Howesver, the, amazing thing was that they were under the impression that England had been successfully invaded and was three-quart-ers occupied by Germans. "Many were so sure that they demanded to be sent to a German camp, whilemany had their bags packed ready in case they we're shot down.

"It was a good idea to have their bags," lie continued Avith a smile, stating that the story had it that German planes used less "gas" than British machines. "They only have to fly one Avay, you see." Brave Poles. The Poles he stated were great Allies as they had a terrific hate for the Germans and the mention of a Nazi Was responsible for a display of rage in any one of them. "If a Polish pilot runs out of ammunition and can't shoot' down a Gorman lie will ram h 14,11 and go doAvn too," he continued. "They brought ever}' thing that they could lly, craAvl, swim or sweep to England and arc very popular." On the Water. • Asked if lie had enjoyed his trip over Sapper Hayward stated that it had been very interesting, but became tiring as so much time Avas spent at sea avoiding the regular trade routes. He had travelled! to England on a large and Avell known liner with 4000 men aboard. They had landed in the North of Scotland where they Avere received by avomen's organisations and fed. He stated that the reception Avas avcl! organised and the men all liaid, too much food, if anything. He added as a point of interest that of the large convoy that he travelled Avith all but one ship were still afloat.

New Zealanders Popular,

The New Zealand, troops had been received enthusiastically everywhere!. At Perth they were, "given the town" and the hospitality of the Australians was splendid. "I went ashore with £1 and came back with 22s 6d, after having a good day," he saidi. adding that the citizens stated that t'hc behaviour of the New Zealanders had always been excellent.

The same enthusiasm was exhibited at South Africa with the New Zealand;ers more popular than any other troops. Sapper Hyaward said a good deal of this fine fee,ling had been the result of the Rugby tours of the All Blacks and the return visits by the Springboks. Homeward Bound. "Just when, a chap had 1 , become used to bombs falling everywhere and taking them for granted, and when he had found many friends he gets sent home," Sapper Hayward saidi. "I am pleased, of course, to be back, but I hated leaving the boys and would like to be with them again."

He continued that the trip home was made in a roundabout way and was uneventful except that when three days out from England they were bombed, but the escort of R.A.F. machines soon chased the Germans away. The Dutch people in the Indies had treated them very well supplying them with everything for their comfort during a short stay, while the negroes had burst into cheering whenever a New Zealander appeared.

The trip was just like a passenger trip according to the speaker who added that although they were not able to land at Panama American soldiers went aboard the ship and were very friendily. "They were all keen to be in the show themselves," he added. "The New Zealanders received a great hearing everywhere and were given a wonderful time. They did not indulge in any rough stuff," he said. While in England. Sapper Hahvard, who wears the arm badge of a Despatch Rider, spent most of his time in the Old Country riding a motor cycle on transport and despatch. The Dominion troops were on guard on the East Coast awaiting the invasion that never reached the shores and were given one of the most vulnerable parts of the coast to defend. "The invasion was attempted alight," he said, "but was smashed by the R.A.F. boys and just didn't Mime oft'." ' j

Different Army Life. The life in the army was different from the last war, he said, one not knowing at any time if what was being done was a manoeuvre or the real thing. There were no concentrations of troops as such would provide easy targets for aircraft and route marches were ftnv and done by groups of only 20 to 30 men in each. These were) scattered and consequently there were nona of the old company parades. "This is tough on the old Sergeant Major because* he lias no chance for bawling the lads out," he said. Same Camps. The camps used for the Dominion troops were practically the same as in the last war and the New Zealanders still had a wonderful welcome at Walton-on-Thames. The Kiwi is still evident and is kept in good ordier, while Sling camp is changed in name but is still in use.

The Canadians were also very popular and especially so Avith the New Zealaindeirs while likewise were the Tommies. The Canadians were called "Canooks" and in reply to a question Sapper Hayward said that although lie did not see much of the Aussies Avhc'n 011 leavq the New Zealandcrs linked up Avith them and always found them "in the hunt" if there was any trouble about. "You can always depend on an Aussie in a scrap, its like 'is this a private fight or can anyone join in'," he said. Tribute to Padres. The very highest of tributes Avas paid by the Sapper to the Church Army padres who he said Avere the most popular men in the Army. "We Avere neA'er short of a few "bob" or a smoke while they were about and never wanted for writing materials or anything like that. They Avere great sports and did ali the Avork Ave did and then their own on top. The pitj r Avas that they had little money to work on and I know spent all their oAvn pay on the boys —even buj'ing radios out of their own pockets. "There Avas ncA'er neddi oi a compulsory parade Avhen a Church Arm}' padre Avas preaching," he saidi, "the boys turned out every time." Mail Popular. "I enjoyed getting the BEACON oA r er there," said the Sapper Avhen stating that mail was as popular as ever. Anything to read about home even if it Avas Peter the Whaler or all the advertisements came first and the news of Whakatane Avas greatly enjoyed." The fact that- parcels did not always arrive AA'as commented upon unfavourably, it being stated that many did not turn up and often it was noted that the term *sunk" could not be applied as one of tAvo parcels seait on the same ship Avould arrive but the other would "stray." Reception at Auckland. In conclusion Sapper Hayward Avas high in his praise of the re-, ception given the men at Auckland by the Women's War Service Auxiliary/ He said they did great work for the men and their organisation Avas excellent. 'They Avere as efficient as any Women's Service I saAV in England," he said.