EVACUATING GREECE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 117, 16 June 1941, Page 5

EVACUATING GREECE

NEWS FROM LOCAL MEN TRIBUTE TO NAVY Many letters have been received locally since the evacuation of Greece every one striking a cheerful note and making light of the arduous task which the undertaking must have been. Following are extracts from a few of the letters received. A Taneatua lad writes as follows : My Battalion was the first to leavj Egypt. We went with our trucks in tramp steamers, and the boys came over in warships. We landed in Pairaeus —the Port of Aitens and travelled through the beautiful streets of the capital, amidst cheering crowds who threw Uowers etc. into the trucks We camped, for three days on the outskirts of the city, and had plenty of opportunity to explore it. The modern part of the city is wonderful • —being very clean. In fact it is very much like Cairo—not quite so big but much cleaner. Then Ave left on our trip through Grcecc, 15ft trucks forming the vanguard. On that one day we travelled practically through all Greece. We saw.- and were warmly welcomed by, the girls and old men. who were workers on the roads. Girls (who in appearance and charm —well ! I won't say any more about them) were doing their bit towards their 'Country's Avar effort. It was mar\ r c]lous to think that at least Ave could do something to help these great people. They dropped their and picks to cheer us on our way. We AA 7 ere there t\A r o or three weeks before the Huns declared Avar. Straight from the heat of Egypt to the snoAV of Mt. Olympus. We' felt the cclc! very much though in fact the climate of Greece is very like that of New Zealand. A very small rainfall they say. Around about Easter Monday we woke to find "Jerry" within a few miles of us. From then on to our disembarking day (27th April) Ave were given "hell" by German Air Force. They dive bombed and machined gunned us fram daAvn till dusk. We had no A. A. guns or air force to protect or, or to hit back. We were entirely at their mercy, and believe me they could not slioav us much. HoAvever I came out alright until the last day, when about 20 of their fast planes caught us by surprise, and machine gunned "hell" out of us in the Avheat fields South of Athens. I stopped a piece in my left upper arm and a small piece in the back. We lay loav that last day, the Hun closing around us, till I thought we were done for. HoAvever the Aussie Artillery kept him off, till 10 o'clock when Ave boarded a little scoav which took us (wounded first) a couple of miles out from the beach, where a grey shape loomed up in the darkness. There to our great relief were three destroyers and a cruiser.

We (800) got on a small destroyer where they dressed our wounds and fed us tons of sweet tea etc. The skipper handed around his silver cigarette case to us all, and was it predated ! The Royal Navy is the greatest body of men in the world 'O-'daj'". So good to the army and can't help us enough, and work under the worst conditions. They alone got us quickly to the Island of Crete and safety. We stopped there one night, and came on to Alexandria the next day strongly escorted by the Mediterranean Fleet. LETTER FROM CRETE Writing to his mother, Mrs M. Penny, Jerry Matthews gives news of his first days in Crete, when the troops had some time to recover from the Grecchm campaign and prepare for the violent battle to come. His letter describes the island as follows :—. A few lines to advise you that up until the present date everything that matters is on the up and up. I was about to despatch a cable, then bearing in mind the number having the same thought and the congestion that eventuated through thousands forwarding greetings at Christmas last I came to the conclusion that in all probability the air mail will prccede the cable despatch. Our surroundings here are a facsimile of Greece even unto the inevitable donkeys and olive trees. However the situation at present is far more peaceful it being now possible to lie and lazily watch an aeroplane approach whereas previously when even hearing the noise of the motors (Continued in next column)

one could not discern enough cover to hide under. The climate at present is ideal and a more peaceful atmosphere would be harder to find, taking into consideration the hospitality of the inhabitants, mostly Greeks I could easily survive here for the duration. Perhaps I should have said subject to enemy approval. Undoubtedly they have an eye on here as elsewhere. However T cannot say as to whether their Fifth Column is active here like unto Greece. The villagers are poor but exceptionally honest, and payment for their services in any form is well nigh impossible, to all appearance they appear staunch enough. Our outward mail has been delayed due to sudden movements, the incoming should the same have arrived as far as Athens will probably be destroyed due to lack of delivery. The lour through Greece has been rather an interesting and exciting experience as you will ably have heard from Lord Haw! Haw! who piled on the publicity. The anniversary of Anzac Day passed without history's repitition. Nevertheless the poppies were growing in abundance to commemorate the day, and in quantity peeping through the barley or gra ; s they were a marvellous sight. The countryside of Greece on out departure had leached probably the most picturesque sight of the years, the fruit trees in bloom, olive trees in dense foliage, and the grape* forming, all assist in forming a magnificent picture Here in Crete a similar vista greets the idea only that the picture has as a background the "Mediterranean" itself. Til" 3 length of our sojourn here is unknown, however the situation suits us all. But assured everything is O.K. and I am enjoying the best of health.