DISTRICT WAR SERVICE FIGURES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 25, 20 November 1945, Page 4

DISTRICT WAR SERVICE FIGURES

WITH town and district of Whakatane on the verge of a three-cornered Queen Carnival campaign it is interesting to reproduce figures which were recently released by the local branch of the Returned Services' Association. From this district no less than 2700 men of military age were examined for military service. Of this number 1700 went overseas in the Army alone.* It is assumed that the Air Force and the Navy drew recruits (of -whom detailed numbers are not available) to the extent of from 400 to 500, which would bring the total, in the fighting services up to 2200, an achievement of which we may well be proud, when it. is realised that the combined population was little more than 13,000. An elment always inclined to be overlooked is the number of young women from Whakatane who joined the three fighting services under the well known headings of the W.A.A.C-, the W.R.A.A.F., and the W-R.E.N. These young ladies who heeded the call are as entitled as the men to be included in the honours list and should therefore also be regarded as part of the district's war quota. While official figures cannot therefore be quoted it is interesting* to once again repeat the R.S.A. estimate that over 1000 men are expected back who will be making their permanent homes in our midst and who in every respect represent the most virile and progressive section of the community.