THE BOYS ARRIVE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 90, 16 July 1943, Page 5

THE BOYS ARRIVE

TUESDAY'S HOME COMING SCENES AT THE STATION MANY TOUCHING REUNIONS "All I can say is that the boys are thrilled to the back home. I expect I could talk till doomsday, but I wouldn't be able to do justice to their feelings," said Col. Frank Prideaux to a Beacon representative when greeted on his arrival last Wednesday. "You people over here were excited' enough at our coming home," he continued, "but you just couldn't imagine the reception of. the news by the boys when they first heard of. it in Egypt." w ; Col. Prideaux's remarks are pr<roa good, guage on the thoughts of the average local man who arrived so unexpectedly home from the Middle East last Tuesday. The men who had travelled the long journey from Wellington were delighted with the marvellous demonstrations of welcome along the line. From Hamilton to the Bay of Plenty they declare that the progress of j their train was one of perpetual receptions and complimentary ad- j dresses. At every stopping place the same touching scenes of famLy reunions, were enacted, folk who had not seen .their husbands, brothers and sons ior three years and more giving the fullest vent to their feelings. Atj Te Aroha the bands were paraded and the local school children lined the .platform as the Mayor addressed the: men. At Tauranga, where a long stay was necessary in order to link up with the Taneatua Express, the Citizens Welcome Committee; provided a special 7 dinner in the town hall and made the men the guests of the Borough for the full four hours of their stay. From Other Centres The boys from this district however were, many of them able to find swifter means of transport and mgide the journey by car and service route. Thus Mierv Cumming;: who landed at Rotorua came home with his family in the afternoon. Warrant Officer Norman Patterson was likewise met at Tauranga and was one of the lucky ones. Down the Rangitaiki line each .station bagged its quota, to the ! same scenes of enthusiasm and happiness (sometimes tearful). At Whakatane West Thirty cars were ranged up at the Whakatane West Station where its dismal dinginess was heightened by the play of headlights and the. .atmosphere of happy anticipation. The train was not as late as usual and the crowd forgot for once to be critical. As it swept round the Awakeri bend and came to a halt the crowd singed forward peering in at the windows and watching eagerly .as the khaki-clad figures emerged. Cries of welcome arose on all sides as one by one the men were recognised and the platform became the scene of demonstrations of the utmost joy. There was no restraint —and why sould there be ! One caught, a glimpse of Sergeant Stan Miller stepping down to reclaim his family, the tall form of Driver Fred Kinnard, as he lumped his bluey, Gunner Francis Price who looked fit and well, and L/Cpl Don Hume and' Jack Stewart. Demonstrative Maoris But it took the Maoris to show real emotion. Dusky girls from Paroa and Poroporo clustered round the windows peering into the carriages until they recognised their heroes. "Charlie! Charlie!" cried a dozen rich voices and one slighter than her companions was actually clever enough to climb through the window. The men of the famed Maori Battalion emerged smiling and happy and, were immediately whisked away to the waiting cars, to the accompaniment. of excited conversation and pinioned by a dozen female arms.