The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1941. TWO YEARS AGO—WHEN WHAKATANE AWOKE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 153, 10 September 1941, Page 4

The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1941. TWO YEARS AGO—WHEN WHAKATANE AWOKE

FASHION decrees that upon anniversaries it is customary to travel in retrospect and to dwell for a space upon the original movements of the subject in hand. Thus upon the second anniversary of the declaration of war newspapers throughout the Dominion have dwelt at some length upon the underlying causes and New Zealand's first reactions to Neville Chamberlain's grim announcement that war had been declared with Nazi Germany. At the risk of being accused of being belated with our contribution, we feel that we have a sound and reasonable excuse, for apart from a very healthy stock of rumours and a little pannicky food-hoarding Whakatane two years ago on the actual anniversary of the war (September 3rd) did little but wag its head in melancholy bewilderment. It was not until the 10th (to-day's Anniversary) when the Government's offer to equip and despatch a special force overseas was accepted by the Imperial authorities that something like organisation began to creep in. No sooner had the Sports Queen Carnival heads decided that it was likely to be a long war and that: they had better abandon the project, than 'Petrol Rationing' was introduced with dire effect upon the already overtaxed staJT of the local post office. The rush that set in, had the officials by the ears but it was a 'war' measure and nobody grumbled (teudly). Major C. F. Thomas took the first definite step towards enlisting recruits following on the Government's announcement, and placing himself at the disposal of the military authorities commenced the distribution of attestation papers. On the same day the gentler sex were awakened to their responsibilities and a lecture by Mr Ira A. Bridger on the aims of the Red Cross recruited a hundred new Florence Nightingales. Whakatane was waking up and the process was; gaining momentum. The compulsory registration of aliens gave the police cause to wear a slightly enhanced look of dignity and selection. Dame Rumour of course—had a glorious time and it is with a certain degree of shame that we read of the hysterical Ohope dwellers who panniaked- inland to avoid t!he bombardment of the Jap. fleet! But it required the arrival of the 12th, to witness our true reaction to the martyrdom of Poland. On that day there were 110 enlistments from the district for overseas service. Many who were unable to obtain enlistment forms travelled to Rotorua to ehroll there. O'f the first batch of 46 to be medically examined" 32 passed fit. Towards the end. of the month the 'boys' were called to camp, and just two years ago we can recall the first gay farewell parties and send-offs from the station. Almost a holiday jaunt it appeared then! but of course the mainland of Europe in those days was not under the Nazi heel; nor had' the 'blitz' of England commenced; nor had the French collapse taken place, or the Libyan invasion started, or the Greek or Cretan campaigns been dreamt of. The thought of service overseas held the prospects of a sightseeing trip. The deacliiness of war had not dawned upon us. Unfortunately to-day we have learnt it-s lessons only too well, and though we stand scatheless in the midst of smiling abundance we are nevertheless at war' in a grim determined fashion which was hard for us to imagine two years ago. No one then thought that the time would come when the Labour Government would introduce conscription; when this district alone would send 1000 men away for military training; that it could stage a parade of 1400 members of the Home Guard; or that after two years it would have suffered 72 casualties in killed, wounded and missing.