WHAKATANE'S CIVIC WELCOME

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 91, 20 July 1943, Page 5

WHAKATANE'S CIVIC WELCOME

THE BOYS ON LEAVE ALL RETURNED MEN INCLUDED j PARADE AN]) CEREMONY "We know that you are not wanting to listen to a lot of liot air to-day—any glorification of your expl'oits coming from us "would be mere presumption. You liave the satisfaction of knowing that you did the job, and 1 did it "well. When you left us over three years ago we knew then that anything you had to do would be done thoroughly, and ! the fact that so many men of the first New Zealand Expeditionary Force are here to-day to do you honour is an indication. ;that they too realise that the traditions' that they won have not suffered at youf hand®. Today is not an entertainment. It is a civic recognition of your -services, so that young and! old! are able to see and hear you and 1 to extend to you their warmest welcome.'* In these words His: Worship the Mayor, Mr B. S. Barry, summed up the feedings •of the large crowd assembled in the Winter Show Buildings* last Saturday to d'o honour to the men from: the Middle East who are now enjoying a period of ex- 1 tended leave. The large building was paeked to "■••capacity its centre being occupied by the khaki column of the new war veterans side by side with another ■column of the men of the Ist N.Z.E.F. The Pipe and Boys Bands llanked each side of the platform on which were seated His Worship the -Mayor, Mr J. L. Burnett (County ■ Chairman), Mrs W. Sullivan,, Mr J. H. Delves (President R.S.A.) and Te Keepa Tawhio , (Maori representative) . The singing of the National Anthem opened'proceedings and it was -a tribute to the 700 or 800 present, that onq could have heard a pin drop as Mr Barry commenced' his -address. He read telegrams from the Prime Minister and Mr W. Sullivan M.P., and the Manawahe Patriotic Committee desiring to be associated with the welcome home, anil then went on to extend on behalf of the citi--zens of Whaltatanc a warm and hearty wclcome. It was particularly pleasing to note how lit and well the -men were looking he said. "In fact," continued Mr Barry "we in Whakatane are wonder-

ing li you. wimps- wuu imvc faced WhakataneV black out at its best, can really know what war is!" In extending the town's welcome, there was but one cause for regret iind that was that they were only back on furlough and not home for 4iood. But, he added,, we can trust that ere your leave is' up the news will be such, that there will be no need to leave New Zealand again. -{Applause). Mr Burnett's Remarks Mr J. L. Burnett then spoke for residents in the county stating'that •on their behalf lie extended their heartfelt goodwill and thanks for sill that had been done in the Middle East. The people at home had followed their progress day after ■day, and realised that they had had ■disappointments as well many glorious successes. Those old diggers who had had the experience of the past war realised what a desert campaign meant and they appreciate only too well the fact that un•der those conditions, not once had our men fallen out on the way but had carried through till the final had been won in Tunisia, bringing about the defeat of. the Axis in North Africa. They had thus figured gallantly in what Mr Winston •Churchill had described as "the end of the beginning." Touching on the position in the Middle East last, year,, Mr Burnett said that he did not think the outlook had been blacker. The forces of Rommel were within sixty miles •of Alexandria, .when the New Zealand Division had been flung into the gap. That they ha<jL held the line, against all attacks was something of which all could be proud -and history would record that in El Alamain, Rommel lost the battle of Egypt. They would see changes in New 'Zealand, but nothing of a drastic nature. There was still plenty to eat and drink. He trusted therefore that they would have a very happy! time on their leave.

The Maori Welcome Chief Keepa Tawhio, with Mr Albert Stewart acting as interpreter, extended the usual Maori welcome, rich in eloquence and meaning, "We greet, you and welcome you home to the land you love,/' he said, "and aiso to those loved ones you have been longing to meet again. It is to-day a joy to every man. woman and child to see you here. 1 know you are keen to get amongst you:* own people again, so I. will say good luck to you and may it continue iI." you have to go overseas once more. ' The R.S.A M,r J. H. Delves said that the R.S.A. had been thrilled by the remarkably acli icavemen Is| which tho men of the 2nd N.Z.E.F. had won overseas. He reminded them that anything that it was possible to do for them whilst on leave, the R.S.A. would be happy to do. It had been a joy and a pleasure to be associated with them and. he hoped it would not be long before they would be home permanently and each one wearing the. R.S.A. badge. Col. Frank Prideaux Replies Responding for the men on leave* Col. Frank Prideauw M.8.E., said that though he felt a certain embarrassment he was nevertheless proud to speak on behalf of the men. Thev had. been through varying situations during "the past 3% years and the first reaction to the news of their coming home was one of heartfelt rejoicing. There was of course a tinge of regret that .so many of their comrades had not been able to make the same trip but their turn would come soon. There were others who were prisoners of war who would not be returning till after it was all over. Their fighting days were finished. The welcome had been an inspiration, and he hoped that the prospect of seeing peace declared in the near future would come true. However that was a questihon with two sides to it. "We hope," he said, "that should we have to go once more into service that we will again be sent back to complete the job with our comrades. The position in New Zealand is not s)d serious as we had been led to believe and there are no serious hardships and no vital shortages. You 1 people are so much - better off than others. We are glad! of it. We are fighting in order to keep it like that and 1

we have not been disappointed." We appreciate your wonderfully warm welcome and thank you from our hearts. Men on Parade Col. F. Prideaux, M.B.E. Capt. M. G. Fowler W.O. II N. Patterson W.O. II F. A. Burt Sgt. A. E. Shaw Sgt. S. F. Miller Sgt. E. Riini L/Sgt K. Wallace L/Sgt T. Wharewera Cpl. J. A. Stewart Cpl. L. T. Manu L/ 'Cpl. A. S. Hume L/Cpl. J. M.. Logan L/C pi. J. H. Krskine Gnr. F. W. Price Dvr. K. Lyon Sgm. L. J. Connolly Sgm L. S. Grant Dvr. F. H. Kinnaird Pte. R. Rawson Spr. F..L. Waterman Pte. E. Grace Pte. G. J. Revell Pte. M. J. Cummings Pte. J. H. Howell Pte. W. Wharewera Pte. E. H. McCausland. Wiress Operator N. Rrockett N.Z.A.F. WAIMANA PLANS SPECIAL DINNER AND BALL Residents of Waimana have been busily making arrangements to honour the. half-dozen local men who have returned as well as all others repatriated since the war began. To-morrow evening a special dinner will be held in the hall in honour of all ex-servicemen of the present war, while on Thursday evening a ball will be held at which the men will be guests. i