SCOUTMASTER OVERSEAS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 198, 31 December 1941, Page 2

SCOUTMASTER OVERSEAS

SGT S. F. MILLER'S MESSAGE

TO HOME

SCOUTING IN OTHER COUNTRIES

Sgt S. F. Miller, well known locally as scoutmaster prior to his leaving with the 2nd N.Z.E.F., writes an interesting letter to the Cubs, Scouts and Scouters, of Whakatane, in which he details meetings with Scouts in other lands. His letter reads as follows:—

Am writing these few lines to wish you all the very best of Christmas greetings and Good Hunting for 19-T2. being out here have had the opportunity of meeting scouts and cubs of almost every nationality and they all have the same laws and promise as you have, Avith the same idea's of international brotherhood. It makes one AA'onder Avhy men of the Avorld cannot foster the same spirit of brotherliness which our late founder Lord Baden Powell had in mind, and aac as a movement try to practise, Avhen he first laid the foundations oi our great Scout movement. Greek Scouts Whilst in Greece I found the boys all OA-er the country doing Avar Avork and many a time have experienced their good turns and Avhcn I have offered a tip got the big scout grin and three finger salute Avith Avords to the effect that they Avere Boy Scouts, The Greek scauts in Cairo which I have several times had the opportunity of visiting and consist of eight strong troops and packs ( are some of the best organised and run troops I haA'e seen Language is no bar in the scout movement l'or they haA-c the same games and work as you haA r e. The boys of the East like those in other theatres of Avar arc all doing their bit in the A.R.P. and other organised Avar Avork. HaA r e just returned from a trip to Palestine where I Avas privileged to meet refugee scouts and cubs some Avho haA'e had terrifying experiences in escaping from their oavii country and they all still have the big grin and carry out the Sth scout law. Noav boys I hope y°" - a re all doing your bit to Avin this Avar and bring back freedom to the Avorld, ask your Scoutmaster about it he ivill tell you lioav best te> help. Do plenty of good turns. I am always meeting some of our old scouts of the Bay' who are serving in the forces, both Maori and Pakeha, and they all like to talk about their pleasures of scouting days so let me say to you all Get to it apd get the most out of your scouting daj r s, be loyal tp your troop and make it 'second to none.'

Dash Across Mediterranean I am not going to write a lom epistle about the Greek campaigi or our experiences in the desert bu will give you a few notes of inter .'.st. First let me say I was attachec to B Coy of the 24th. Imagine a trii in a motor boat on the sea and make the boat a destroyer and it will giv( you something of the thrill we experienced as we dashed across the Mediterranean, under cover of darkness knowing we were going to have our first taste of modern warfare foi which we had been so long training When daylight came we could set land but soon learned to was one oi the numerous Islands off the coast of Greece. Presently we sighted snow covered mountains then more coast land until we arrived in the Port of Pireur. Uneventful except, for a few shots by the destroyers machine gun to try and explode a drifting mine that was on our starboard side. Well done the Navy for they had landed us safely, previously clearing the sea of enenvy craft. After disembarking we proceeded through the City of Athens, to the cheering of the population who showered us with flowers and showed great enthusiasm, to arrive in our camping area situated in a forest of olive trees, where we had to establish ourselves until further orders.

Homely People During our journey we passed a stream of thousands of Italian prisoners marching down from the front line. The next few days in camp we had a chance of visiting Athens, which is a very fine city and reminded one of Wellington with its fine buildings and background of hills. Our next move was to the station, when Ave boarded enclosed cattle and goods truck§, and proceed on to the Salonika Front, only once having to stop several hours for an air raid outside of a place called Larissa, proceeding to find Jerry had missed the raihvaj T line. We disembarked at a town called Katarina, where we stayed in barns, empty houses,

schools etc. for several days until our transport, which had come up by road arrived, then Ave advanced to our lines of defence. We found the village people very homely and doing all they could to help us and it did not take the soldier long to make friends even though the language was strange. Our life as infantry was one of digging trenches and defence work, my )ob was to keep my company fed a job which I endeavoured to do throughout, though sometimes it was under great difficulties. Just in front of our lines the Greeks were digging a large tank trap which unfortunately was never properly completed. Our first experience of the Germans advance was an endless stream of foot worn and weary refugees coming along the roads. Some walking others riding on waggons pulled by tired bullocks, women with babies, the aged hobbling along, children crying, bullocks and horses dropping down as if they had given man their last ounce of strength. New Position" Next we saw huge lircs started in the city of Salonika and endless streams of small boats making for the Greek coast. The Germans advanced in their hordes, our engineers blew up the main road and railway bridges to delay them. The enemy was breaking through on our Hank so we had to retire to take up new defensive positions, all the time being subject to attacks from the air, and so worked our way back through Greece, lirst to the mountains around Olympus, the Larissa Hats, hills around Volos, Athens and thence to riding around the coast. {

We had a great experience taking up one position to the llank of Mt. Olympus, aboA T e the spoav Jine, as alll gear had to be packed on donkeys. Our officers, Capt Collins and Paddy Webb, managed to gather scores of these beasts of burden, used for all transport purposes by the mountain people, and after overcoming many difficulties to be found {n loading them up, an endless trail was sent up the narroAV mountain tracks, to be comforted the next morning Avith Avord to bring everything back doAvn and take neAV positions behind the mountain. Whilst in our mountain home one thing I must mention that I think every soldier of the 2-lth Avho attended Avill never forget and that was a Avonderful service our Padre Keith Watson held in an old Monastry Church on Easter Sunday. Though everyone had to stand as it Avas so packed with men I am sure our Padre Avas inspired and conveyed the thoughts of our people in New Zealand.

Wonderful Navy

In our new position we encountered the first and only Y.M.C.A. canteen van we saw in the country find as word got around the boys it was soon relieved of all its stock in trade much to the enjoyment of all. The full story of our rearguard action you have read in your papers. We were constantly straffed from the air and all had our various experiences and those of us who were fortunate enough to land back in Egypt to continue the fight take off our hats to the wonderful work the Navy performed to have made it possible. a I was unfortunate with several others to lose our Battalian north of Theber, but we made our way back through Athens thence to the coast where we waited in hiding to be picked up one night by a naval [ boat and taken out to a converted merchant ship, and though Jerry bombed and machine gunned the boat the next morning we made our way to Crete thence back to Alexandria, landing tired and weary in body but not spirit for the sailors had fed us and done all possible to make us comfortable and on landing more willing helpers provided us with hot tea, lunch and cigarettes. After waiting about camp for a fortnight I was able to locate my unit and re-goin them.