FROM THE ISLANDS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2436, 15 April 1915, Page 3

FROM THE ISLANDS

—; f TROOPS BACK PROM SAMOA A PARTY WELCOME BY MINISTERS & THE PUBLIC

With the exception of less than . 100 men the whole of'the original Expeditionary Force for Samoa has returned to New Zealand. The steamer with the final contingent, consisting of between 500 and 600 men, arrived yesterday morning, the band of the troops playing gaily as the vessel moved slowly across the harbour to the King's Wharf, where the vessel was berthed. There was a large number of spectators clustered at the various points of vantage, and the wharves were crowded with the relatives and friends of the lads who have been absent from their homes for some eight months. - The troops left Apia on Sunday week, made a call at Suva (Fiji), where they were exercised for a couple, of hours, when the voyage was resumed. The voyage was smooth throughput. On arrival, Major Cowles (Officer Commanding) reported that the discipline of the troops had been excellent throughout the trip, arid that those troopers who were indisposed when taken on board at Apia had recovered during the voyage. The disembarkation waa superintended by Lieutenant-Colonel C. Harcourt Turner, Military Landing Officer, with Lieutenant Mee as Assistant Military Landing Officer.

The returned men on landing were officially received by the Prime Minister (the Right Hon. W. F. Massey), the Minister of Defence (the Hon. James Allen), the Chief of the General Staff (Lieutenant-Colonel C. M. Gibbon), and other military officers, and the Mayor of Wellington (Mr. J. P. Luke). ■ Ministers' Speeches of Welcome. The Prime Minister (the Hon. W. F. Massey), addressing the men from the deck of the transport, said he desired on behalf of the people of New Zealand to extend them a hearty welcome back to the Dominion. He had no doubt that during the past few months time h?d hung heavy on their hands. They had not had an opportunity of using the rifle and of putting into practical Use the training they had received, but they had the satisfaction of knowing

that during their absence from New Zealand they_ had rendered good service to the Empire and New Zealand and to the British in the Pacific. It was now. practically ' certain that . Samoa would, never belong to any other Power, and that the red ensign would hold its proper sway. He had no doubt that now they were back in_ New Zealand many of them were looking forward, to taking a hand in more, trying events. He sincerely hoped they would have the opportunity, and they would do credit to themselves and to the country _to which they belonged. In the meantime he trusted that .they would have a very pleasant holiday, and that they would always be able to look back with satisfaction to' their period of service in Samoa. (Applause.) The Minister of Defence (the Hon. James Allen) also extended a hearty jvelcdme to the contingent, and as Minister of Defence expressed his gratitude to both officers and men' for. the splendid way in which, they had done their duty. Looking round, he felt certain they were a better lot of men than

they were when they went away, and that they would make better citizens of New Zealand as the result of their experience. The officer in command of the transport had informed him that on the voyage back their behaviour was excellent, and that he liad not a word of complaint to make. (Applause.) Ee reminded those who were entering upon a further service that it would .be work of a serious nature, but which would carry honour and glory with it such as any man should be proud to achieve. To perform that work they would require to do more training than they had had to do in Samoa. They wanted to send them away as thoroughly disciplined as they could, so that when they got to the front and served beside the trained soldiers of Great Britain they would be equally well disciplined and trained. If they did that they would be doing lasting, honour to themselves and the people of New Zealand. He thanked them; all for the services they had performed, and once more extended them a hearty welcome back. (Applause.) The Mayor of Wellington (Mr. _J. P. Luke) congratulated, the contingent upon its return, and called for three cheers for the officers and men, which were heartily given. At the request of the Mayor three hearty cheers were also given for the captain and officers of the transport. ■

March Through the City. After the! speeches the troops were marched! off tlie wharf. .Those who have decided to . continue in the service were dispatched to Trentham. aiid_ are to be given a fortnight's leave before taking up camp work seriously, and the large majority who elected to sign ott marched through the City, neaded by the band of the sth Regiment, to the Buckle-Street Drill Hall.. Most of the men wore the "shorts" instead of the long khaki trousers, and _ stated that in Samoa they wore nothing else latterly. The men waited about the drill hall for the greater part of the day, sorting out their luggage as it came up from the troopship, and waiting instructions as to the payment of the monev due to them. Most of the members of the 3rd (Auckland) Eegiment intended to leave for home last night but could not do so as they had not been paid. The sth (Wellington) Regiment are to be paid this afternoon.

List of the Wellington Men. Folio wins: is the full list of names of officers and men from the Wellington city and suburban area who returned yesterday morning:— . sth (Wellington) Regiment). ' Major J. A. Cowles, Officer Com"lleuteiiant C. K. Gasquoine, Adjutant. . Captain E. Puttick Lieutenants J. 11. Cowles, t. 0. Lawards, J. G. Bennett. Chaplain-Captain L. oegrictf. Regimental Sergeant-Major b. B. MacMorran, Regimental Quartermas-ter-Sergeant .J. H. Cameron. Sergeant-Cook John Lee, ArmourA, H. Marshall,. Pionear Se*-.

geant John 'Walker, Sergeant-Major R. V. A. Knox, Quartermaster-Sergeants D. W. M'Clurg, G. H. Weir. Sergeants Charles Gair, E. Holhs, C. W. Jones, A. J. Nimrao, H. T. O'Neill, W. T. Richards, E. J. Tait. Lance-Sergeants P. D. Barckam, H. Q- Tagg. , _, r Corporals A. S. Crowther, E. M. Gilmour, A. Hudson, A. W. Quinnell, JE. Williamson. Lance-Corporals C. A. Berendsen, Jd. W. Biddle, F. T. Clere, K. M. Cole, P. E. Cole, A. E. Cook, T. Cox, _A. J. Ferguson, P. T. Field, L. Guthrie, b. K. Hansard, J. H. Irvine, A. J. Larsen, C. J. Lenihan, W. G. Morpeth, S. A. Murrell, R. R. Pointon, E. J. Spooner, C. W. Thorn©. . ■ Privates K. E. Adams, E. Affleck, Charles Alexander, H. A. Alexander, F. C. Ambridge, H. W. Angell, J. H. Atkinson, H. Avison, W. E. Bailey, F. Baker, P. C. Baker, S. C. Baker, Jas. Baldwin, F. E. Ballard, Jas. Barber, J. L. Barnard, G. Bates, J. W. Bennett, J. H. Bennett, L. A. Berg. \. R. Barnard, R. C. M. Blackett, H. G. Bland, C. Bowater, T. Boyce, C. Brill, F. J. Bromley, H. B. Burnley, S. Cordozo, W. W. Chambers, S. H. Chesters, G. D. Christie, W- L. .Clapson, Arthur Clark, R. Collins, R. G. Collins, A. C'onningham, H. Cooper, R. W. Cooper, A. J. Cox, A. J. Craig A. Crosslev, N. Cummins,' B. J. Dennehy, P. J. Devine, C. H. Dixon, Jack Don, H. W. K. Driver, D. J. Dumford, R. F. Eager. N. 0. Ebbett. W. H. Ede, A. E.. Edmonds, F. C. Evans, W. A. Evans, A. Fea, E. J. D. Fooks, 0. V. Fordham, K. Fraser, A. George, F. J. Gibson, F. M. Gilmore, A. W. Godsell, W. Goldsmith, I. B. Gow, 0. S. Graham, T. E. Gray, W. A. Gray, W. A. Greenfield, H. Ci Grout, Henry Gunderson, T. S. Hamer, D. S. Hamilton, L. C. Hamlin, P. Harlen, E. Hart, Henry Hart, Harry Hart, G. A. Hayden, 'W. F. Henley, W. R. Hoddy, F. L. Hook, H. M. Hopper, J. R. Hosking, F. Howard, A. E. Hunt, G. Hutchison, W. F. Jacobson, C. A. James, A. F. Johns, A. Johnston, H. K. Johnston, H. M. Jones, S. 1\ Jones, E. L. Kelly, C. V. King, G. King, E. C. Kitto, R. W. .Lavery, G. A. Lawrence, H. J. Lawrence, B. W. Legg, G. H. Liardet, John Lucre, James M'Callum, L. J. A. M'Callum, H. M'Cormick, J. W. M'Cullagh, J. MacKail, D. M'Kay, J. H. M'Kay, J. H. I ''M'Kell, E. R. M'Killop, M. H. M'Leod, L A. M'Millin, J, .J. M'Millan. H. L. Marbrook, Horace Marshall, R. H. Martin, R. L. Mason, G. W. Matthews, A. F. Meldrura, R. C. R. Moore, A. E. Morrison, Henry Munro, Roy Nelson, R. M. Newman, A. Norling, J. E. W. O'Brien, J. C. O'Leary, B. W. Oliver, F. W. Packer, F. H. Pa/ddy, R. Parker, J. R. Perston, JH. A. Peterson, G. A. P. Petherick, R. L. C. Philip, R. J. Reid, E. E. Richmond. A. J. Robinson, R. Robinson, D. L. Rose, K. D Russell, E. V. S. St. George, Chas. Scott, Gl W. Scott, H. V. Scott, HaTry Sherning, A. W. R. Sherwood, R. W. Shirley, H. C. Sim, L. H. Smith, N. K. Smythe, C. L. A. Spearman, R. J. Surgenor, F. G. Thompson, S.' B. Thomson, C. F, J. Tinnelly, W. G. Tonkins, C. Tunley, A. H. Vial, H. Vivian, T. W. Walker, W. S. Watt, A. F. iVebb, Paul Welsh, K. Wiggins, Roger Wilberfoss, B. V. Williams, R. C. Wood, C. A. C. Woodford, A. Worsfold, H- V. Wright, D. D. M. Yaats, T. A. Jackson.

Machine-Gun Section. Sergeant R. G. Gallien. Corporals W. R. Proffit, F. H. Hudson,- Lance-Corporal J. T. Gosling. Privates S. P. Chapman, W. W. Diggle, S. M'Conocliie, H. M'Cutcheon, J.. A. M'Lean, Peter M'Lean, W. H. M'Lew, F. C. Pinckney, J. W. Robertson, W. J. Robertson, John Rowney, A. J. E. Staples, Joseph Stratford, W. Taylor, A. V. Young. New Zealand Railway Engineers. Sergeant C. L. Mullaney. Corporal W. H. Williamson. Sappers G. J. Bell, D. J. Burke, J. C. Hewsori, C. N. Jones, J. W. Martin, C. Staden. New Zealand Medical Corps. The following Wellington members of the N.Z.M.O. arrived from Slomoa jester-, day:—Privates Simpson (Petone), Daniel. Elliott, Luke, Grose, Crawford, and Halse. Army Service Corps. Sergeant J. M. Power. Privates N. H. P. Heidenstrom, F. G. Love, L. P. M'Kfeown, E. 0. Withers, A. J. Withers.