HOME FROM THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2609, 3 November 1915, Page 6

HOME FROM THE WAR

WILLOCHM WOUNDED WELLINGTON'S: EWTIUSIASTIC WELCOME ' A MEMORABLE GATHERING

" The North Island section of the .wounded soldiers who returned from ;Egypt by the Willochra arrived hero ; early. yesterday morning from Lytteli.ton by the Monowai. As tho steamer 'arrival' at an earlier hour than was "generally expected, those who were on [the King's Wharf when' the steamer 'drew alongside oonsisted for the most ipart of relatives of those on board, and '•a few officials. As tho day advanced 'people began to arrive, and by 10 a.m. .both the !wharf and - steamer were '.thronged. Here were knots of soldiers ■ [telling over again: tho , latest trench or '■hospital joke;;there was.a trooper explaining to, his relatives how he receiv-. I'd. his wound. "If I\ had ducked ■ when Charlie did I would have been all : 'right, : but it go t me in tho arm I" was ••a' fragment. ol : conversation caught in ••passing. . Out in the open a little ;group of Maoris from shore and sea wopt copiously and unafraid on each Where shoulders, and nearby a grey'liaircd mother patted the back of a .(stalwart soldier in much tlio same maniaier that she would have done when he • .was a prattling boy. And the gleaming waters of the harbour laughed in the golden glory of the morning, and war i seamed a million miles away. ■ The unusually long spell-between tho 'arrival of the steamer and tho departure of the men to the welcome-homo ceremonial was really an advantage lather than otherwise. It enabled the Hawke's Bay, Wanganui, and TaraJialci men time to depart by the early trains arranged; gave the- Ambulance Corps plenty of time :to get the cot cases'ashore; and allowed the soldiers •to sort out their kits and get. them xeady for removal into town or on to trucks to be hitched on to north-hound trains. It also gave relatives and friends tho opportunity .of meeting thou - loved ones without the usual rush. Soon after 10 a.m. the motor-cars be•gan to arrive, and at 10.30 a.m. a long ;calvacade of'them, each well filled with • seasoned trench-fighters, and headed by a band, pierched on a motor-lorry, moved out on to Waterloo Quay, and from Vtliere via Bunny: Street to Lambton Quay. The city was resplendent with 'bunting, and the. streets were well 'peopled with enthusiastic souls, who gave, "the boys" a very hearty reception all along the route. Here and "'there girls threw flowers —beautiful roses for the most part—into the cars 'as tlicy glided slowly/along "with a good wish with every petaK" There was the usual crush at the Town Hall, where _ the city's welcoiuo culminated in a joyous morning tea, interspersed S with speeches that were commendably crisp and brief.

AT THE TOWN HALL SCENE OF GREAT ENTHUSIASM. The' Town Hall presented a rare sight at 11 a.m., when the returned soldiers commenced to arrive therb from tho ship. Special pains had been taken with decorations. Festoons of the flags of: tho Allies hung across tho hall, and over tho organ were entwined, 'whilst directly over the platform'an excellent likeness of His Majesty King George, enframed by a Union Jack, gavo rise •to..loyal and loving thoughts of the King,.now suffering; a recovery from iiis reccnt accident. As the soldiers arrived tho packed galleries > sent up volleys of welcoming cheers, whilst a willing band of lady helpers made them comfortable round the small tables on tlio main floor, set out with an ample supply of dainties—a welcome! change from bully beef and hard biscu-'t. As the soldiers entered: the hall the City Organist (Mr. B. Page).improvised airaly on the grand organ, as an encouragemont to conversation. His Excel■;loncy the Governor and the Countess of 'Liverpool wero accompanied to the platform by the Prime Minister (Right Hon. W. I<\ Massey), Sir Josepli Ward, Hon. Jas. Allen, Sir Francis Bel], Brigadier-General Robin, Surgeon-Gen-eraf Henderson, and staff officers. His Worship the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) presided. After the "Old Hundredth" .was sung, the Mayor extended tho reiturned soldiers a hearty welcome back to these shores. New Zealand was •not only indebted to those who had ;gono forth to fight, but we had been aspired by the great deeds and noble ■sacrifices they had made. Along ■With the other forces •of the Alliance, England was determined that she will win, and the New Zealand boys. ??i association with their friends from 'Australia, Canada, South Africa, India and tho United Kingdom would he proud in tne fact that they had played ti part in bringing about a final victory and establishing a world : peace. They if A, , ® ir ' ; et-backs at Gallipoli, '/nit' that had only served to quicken •the response, a-nd the presence of those present fresh from Gallipoli must •■•appeal to those who had not yet responded to the call. When thoy saw those More them they were, bound to .ask .th<™selvcs— ' ' What nro . P 6 ~'l oP e <] that, they were.going ;to finish tho job and establish ■ a complete victory. Mr. Luke asked thase present to pniiso vwliilo to trv and rca■,e we feelings of those who were ■bereaved, and also to honour tho mem2'T l ~ os ,° w^lo I,a d fallen in the fight. (Applause.) They esteemed it a wiyilege to be ablo to say that they ■ iind got the men who were prepared, to make the necessary sacrifices in tho pursuance of the duty and responsibilities assigned to them. (Applause ) • Let us feel, too, at this time, for our .Moved King," concluded the Mayor ;"who met with an unfortunate accident in France. May God spare him ond,.bring him to a speedy recovery!"

The Governor Speaks. His Excellency the Governor said that lie did not wish to weary those present with a speech) but ,ho rctcliocd all the sentiments so well expressed by the Mayor, and expressed the pleasure it gave the Countess of ■Lu erpool and himself to welcome thorn al! back to their native shores. Ho .stated that before leaving homo lie ha<l received a cable message stating that rlis Majesty the King was going "on extremely wel!. (Great apnlansc.) He realised, with the Mayor, the deep feeling which had stirred the wholo of the Empire in connection with the King's sccident. In again welcoming the men JTis Excellency said ho was glad to see thov were being so heartily welcomed hack to these ehores. It was their irighfc_ and ho hoped they would bo speedily, restored to health, would have nn enjoyable timo _ with their people, mid then take their place once moro in tho fighting line. The day was a Jiistoric one, inasmuch as an announcement was to be made at Home on tli'e state of the war, which he hoped wolild bo taken as given, as it was no time for carping criticism. At this stage tho Mayor made a reference to tho fino work which had been done by the nurses, and called for tliro n chners'for tliem, which wore heartily given. The Respect of Nations. The Prime Minister, in offering a hearty welcome to "our boys," promised to tako the Mayor's hint and not apeak

for more than one minute, as he was absolutely oertain the men would enjoy themselves better among their friends and relatives. "We, and I speak for the whole of Now Zealand," said Mr. Massey, "appreciate to tho fullest tho work that has been dono by the members of tho Expeditionary Force, and I say advisedly that the fighting qualities of the men who have gono from New Zealand have earned respect among tlio nations of the earth. (Applause.) What a surprise Gorniany and her friends must have got. I believe they thought that they would see it through without our lifting a hand. They know now I And tho longer the war lasts and- the greater the number of mistakes made, the more determined we are to see the war right through to a successful issue. Whether you go back to tho front or not, you will always be honoured and respected for tho good work you have ikne." (Applanso.) "Bravo!" Sir Joseph' Ward, in expressing his welcome, said lie' was inclined to say;— "Bravo, for the deeds the men havo donel" As he was coming into, the hall he saw one wounded man with his arm in a. sling, and another very lame man being, helped by a nurse. And tho man with his arm in a sling _ said to the other—"Let me help you in—this is a bosker place!" (Laughter and applause.) Tlicy only had to look round • and seo the flags intertwined —something which spoke of the spirit of tho Allied peoples in this war. The words of welcome which had been spoken lie echoed sympathetically, but it would be fifty years after, when the historians recorded their deeds of courago and self-sacrifice —that was the time when their relatives ivould be able to say that their kith and kin did their duty in their day and generation. He welcomed them back most sincerely, and hoped that they would soon be back, fit and strong, to do their duty cnce more." (Applause.)

Tho Hon. James Allen (Minister of Defence) endorsed tho welcome, and paid a warm compliment to the great work being done by tho medical services at the front and in Egypt, and also to the Army Service Corps.

WITH THE MAORIS. STRENUOUS WORK. Corporal Paranclii, of Marton, one of the sixteen Maoris of the First Contingent, who returned by tho Willochra, and who was wounded in the hand by a bayonet, on August 7, described Jus feelings during the charge. They were ordered to charge up a hill and take a Turkish trench at the top. Once out of the trench they individually awl collectively went was each one for himself and God for them all. There was nothing; to see in the night, but tliei flashes of the enemy's rifles, and they went straight for them with fixed bayonets. The contingent was badly cut up, but they took three trenches, settled its owners, 'and held on like bulldogs. For two days and nights they were without food or water, and under heavy tire, but they wero Maoris, and felt very proud of their achievement. When they left the Peninsula there Were very few of the contingent left. At this stage other Maoris came to greet tho returned warriors (recruits in khaki), and as'they recounted the losses of comrades the tears gushed unchecked. Li the middle of'it all one Maori said, "It was only God that brought us back!" .

"It was simply hell," said Pte. Hori Huka, of Rot or ua, who was also in the famous Maori charge. "It was just,a hail of bullets and shell fire, but we rushed up the hill, with the fellows dropping all round. I got it in the noso with a bullet, and a bomb scrap in tho (right) eye—the sight is gone for good. Wo took four trenches in tho charge, and captured three' machine guns and eho howitzer." THE ADMIRABLE GHURKA. AND HIS KUKRI. Troopor James Hyde, son of Mr. D. D. Hyde, of Wellington, who was a member of the 9th Mounteds (Second Reinforcements), returned yesterday by tho Monowai, having been hit with shrapnel in tho small of the back, in addition to having been severely bruised by some falling rocks shortly before the big attack in August. Ho participated in the big actions on Juno 18 and oil August 7: We have been called the White Ghurkas, said Trooper Hyde, but there are 110 fighters like tho black Ghurkas —we all take off our hats to them. . Fear is a word they simply don't know —little sturdy chaps, with black, beady eyes, who act like lightning when they do act.

"One picturo I can never forget. We had got mixed up with somo Ghurkas taking a trench, and one just in front of me was at a big Turk, who was defending himself with his rifle and bayonet. All of a sudden, I saw tho bayonet go up, _ and the Ghurka was in like a flash with the kukri, and it was all over in a moment. ... I shan't forget the Ghurkas—ono stood by me for a couple of days when I got hurt with some boulders rolling on mo, when I was helping to pull in one of my v pals who had Been 'sniped' in tho shoulder. ,

■ "It's a funny thing' about the Ghurka," continued Trooper Hyde; "his kukri-is sort of sacred to him. He will not draw it simply to show it to: anyone: And once having drawn it, he will not sheath it unless it has tasted blood. We used to try and get them;to.-do it, but there was no'chance. One of the chaps offered to let one of them, cut his finger if he would show his kukri,' and the cut had to be made before the Ghurka would sheath his ugly blade. They're bosker sniperstalkers, too. See them wriggle away through the scrub, close to tho earth, and steadily and quietly work towards a spot where a sniper is known to be operating. Suddenly the Ghurka springs—thero is a flash, and tlio Ghurka returns to camp with a goocl Mausor rifle."

THEFICHTING "FIFTH," NOT A SHIRKER AMONG THEM. Lieut. M'Comish, who was in charge of the Auckland Infantry of the Fifth Reinforcement, returned to Wellington, by the Monowai yesterday, shot through tho right forearm in the big action between August 7 and 10, in which the "Fifth," fresh-landed, were so terribly cut up. The. Fifth landed in the dark after midnight on August 6, and right from the very_ start were under fire. Indeed, thero is seldom any time when tho boach at Ajizac Cove is not under fire—it all depended on the Turks, who had tho exact rnngo of tho beach, and could throw shrapnel on to it whenever they felt disposed. They wore fortunato enough to be just in time for the big advance, though it might have been better for all had the men had a littlo seasoning in the trenches. Early on August 7 they advanced three miles with fixed bayonets without firing a shot. The Turks had cleared out from their first line of trenches, but from that oil tho fire became very hot, and tho men wore dropping in big numbers, mowed down by tho concentrated niaohin.e-guu and shrapnel fire. "We had advanced on the left of the old position at Anzac," said Lieut. M'Comish, "and we mado good progress under violent fire on tho Bth and 9th, taking three lines of trenches, hut wo snlfored our worst losses on tho 10th, when we were subjected to a very hot and accurate fire, owing to the Turks getting round on - our loft flank in a position to enfilade. That was through the men of Kitchener's Army not getting up in time from Suvla Bay, to junction with our left. Kitchener's mou are helpless without their officors. That's where our men are different. nna of our, officers

goos down ,the next takes liis placo, and if all tlio officers aro knocked out tlio non-coms. tnko up the lead, and after that the men themselves act with bold initiative. They- Unoiv what lias to he done, and tliov aro into it. I looked carefully over my men when we lirst charged, and I will sa,v this for them, that 'there was not a shirker amongst them. Thoro wcro one or two I had my doubts about, and I kept my eye on there, but tlicy went into action as cool and determined as the rest. If our mon had been given tlio Suvla Bay job thoro is no doubt, in my mind that wo could have established ourselves in a very valuable position. Why, the Ghnrkas-Tgreat littlo men—were ahead of us, and actually reached a position from which they could see tlio Is arrows, and then we had' to retire on account of tlio failure of Kitchener's men. I believe we could got through yet, if we were given tho man, and tliey were properly handled—tho August advance showed, that pretty clearly. I don't see how they can .Vacato the Peninsula. They would lose 50 per cent, of the men there in doing so, as the Turks would follow them up. If they do give up Galliooli, I'll wear a black band on my arm!"