FROM THE SOMME

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3022, 8 March 1917, Page 6

FROM THE SOMME

SOLDIERS RETURN

HOSPITAL SHIP REACHES WELLINGTON big whilo hospital ship, bringing Xew Zealand soldiers back from the Soinmc, steamed slowly up 'Wellington Harbour yesterday morning and anchored in the stream. The medical authorities went aboard to overhaul tho ship, and at about half-past one she was berthed at the King's Wharf. A big crowd was "-waiting, mostly outside the barriers, severely criticising tho arrangements tho military had made for the occasion. far tho majority of those who waited beyond the '-'fence" wero relatives and friends of the soldiers, and many of them had come considerable distances to meet the boat. Their impatience was natural, and it certainly duf seem that the arrangements were bad. When the ship first touched New Zealand she had aboard 538 officers and other ranks, and 121 were disembarked at Auckland. The total brought on for tho Wellington district was 141, arid of these four officers and 52 other ranks wore for Wellington city and suburbs. Nearly all tho men aboard have been considerably improved by the voyage, but there are rather few who strike the average observer as being anywhere near fit. Crutches, sticks, and slings are common, and of those who "walk unaided a large proportion look in need of rest and quiet. There (s a ntiinber of cot cases aboard, and among these are somo who aro suffering from the war infliction known as shell-shock.

However, the one outstanding feature of the arrival is the cheerfulness of the men. They had had a good voyage all the way out, and they'liad been well I treated, ami were delighted to be home again. The vessel was met by tho Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke), who had the AVelI lingtou portion gathered on the wharf, where he could, say a few words to j.them, iusfc to assure them that they were very welcome, and that everyone was very proud of what they had as r sisted in accomplishing, and the way in which they had performed their duty. The Mayoress was there, too, and, assisted by the Town Hall Committee, she provided the men with grapes and other fruit. In this way the formal reception at the Town Hall •was done away with. "You arc Wellington men," said the Mayor. "If you see a, car out there, just commandeer it, and go anywhere you,wish to." The Wellington district men who returned are:— Officers. 2/2340 2nd Lieut. ..T. W. Gendall, 2/1541 Capt. V. P. Haughton, 26/1547 2nd Lieut. G. H. Morris, 8/2374 2nd Lieut. E-. R. W- Petrie, 10/4031 Lieut. W. H. Scoon; 15,835 2nd Lieut. M. A. Signal, 2/88 2nd Lieut. R. F. Vial, Other Ranks. 26/430 Rflimi. T. Abol, 22/747 Bflmn. M. R. Aloincs, 6/3600 Ptc. A. Anderson, 2-0,077 Rttmii. C. Babbage. Surgt. W. Barras, IU/3478 Corpl. A. CT Barrott, 23/50 J'te. , T. J. Uelsham, 24/973 itilmn. J. Berry, 10/2075 Pto. A. J. Best. 25,445 Pte'. A. Blanchard, 23/2545 Pte. T. Bowers, 3/885 Pte. N. C. Brittain, 11/1126 Pte. A. A. Bunies, 25/1577 Itllmn. J. Burrell, 22,737 lliimn. L. W. Carrington, 12,909 Gunner A. x Cartcr, 22,772 lltluin. N. R,. 'Chandler, 3/1093 Pte. G , . Childs, 24/1617 Pte. H. Church, 10,133 Pte. U. 0. Clay, 7/1975 Gunner H. C. Cockburn, -23/1595 Lce.-Corpl; F. W. J. Collins, 10,220 Pte. 1). Coyle-, 22,233 Lce.Corpl. K. J). Crane, 2/1219 a Driver — Crotty, 2/L399 Driver J. M. Cumniings, 23/1611 Lce.-Corpl. T. Dcutico, 25/124 -Rilmn. W. L. Dew, 10/2341 Pto. C. D. JJodwcll. 21,941 Pte. F. Doolan, 6/3304 Pte. J. E. Duncan, 2/2116 Gunner F. Kverc-tt, 6/594 Pte. F. Fahey, 10/259S Pte. F. (!. Ij'ahy, 7/2088 Driver F. Fissenden, 6/4505 Pte. T. P. Fitzgerald, 2/2414 Gunner W. Forsytho, 0/4607 Pte. It. C. Francis, 11/1692 Tpr. L. L. Francis, 6/227 Pte. A. J. Findlay, 23/1101. Mmn. J. Friend, 187045 Pto. IC. J. Garwood, 11/645 Pte. L. W. Gee, 24/443 Rfimn. A. Gentle, 2/30 Gunner D. K. Gibb, 11/374 Scrgt. E. Gibbs. 23/1644 Pte. C. N. 24/1667 Mmn. A. C. Graham, 5/1246 Pte. E. A. Graniiekl, 13/181 Gunner A. B. Grpiulin, 2/220 Gunner H. K Halpin, 10/3282 Pte. A. J. Harding, 12,197 Minn. J. Hartree, 16/650 Pte. C. F. Ueberley. 23,382 Mmn. R. D. Hodgson, 12,402 Pto. C. G. Hogan, 6/1879 Sergt. H. Hoinan, 3/2087 Pte. C. 11. Hooper, 25/45 Scrgt. C. G. Horsncll, 23/788 Mmn. A. 11. Houston, 2/45 Sergt. J. Jardine, 26/309 Corpl. J. Jones. 24/309 Pte. M. 'Jones, 24/1698 Pte. E. Jones, 24/2332 Rflmn. J. R. Jones, 8/1527'Pte. C. S. Kelly, 23/2022 Pte. \Y. Kershaw, 6/3063 Pte A. E. Kidson, 3;962 Pte. A. AV. Klenner, 26/408 Mmn. AV. Kjisfcrup. 25/202 Itllmn. AY. L. Kmitson, 24/2234 Rflmn. J. .Krebs, 2/1238 Gunner C. Le Grys, 22,820 Pte. J. Lima; 24/2027 Rflmn. C. Lloyd, 11/1826 Gunner — Lowry,8/4070. Lce.-Corpl. N. Malcolm, 10/5944 Pte. G. W. Marshall, 8/4457 "Pic. F. Martin, 10/402 Lco.-Corpl. C. Meihana, 6/4627 Pte. T. L'. Messenger, 10/4474 Pte. H. H. Mulligan, 10/2706 Pte. J. Milligan, 10/2706 Pte. J. Mitchell, 6/4633 Pte. D.,.Momtt, 6/2203 Pte. R. Mollison, 7/532 Sergt. A. AV. Montgomerie, 20,182 Mniu. G. M'Auley, 25/788 Lce.-Corpl. E. IN. .'M.'Dowell, 0/1764 Pt-u. R. G. A. M'Ehvain, 23/1104 Rilmn. F. M'Lcan. 10/2395 Sergt, J. A. il'Loan, 25/449 Rflmn. D. M'Alillan, 23/863 Pte. D. M'Sporran, 6/3512 Pte. W. M. Neame, 10/4483 Pte A. L. Nicholls, 23/1132 Itllmn A L. Nichol, 10/2258 Pte. AV. C. Northcoto, 24/253 Pte. 11. C. Nye, 26/449 Rflmn. W. Olds,. 6/320 Pte. N. V. Palmer, 24/1760 Pte. P. Petersen, 26/503 Mmn O. G. Petliorick, 2/1660 Gunner D. Phillips, 26/417 Sergt. T. Raleigh, 24/890 Rflmn. C. -Raven, 22/860 Pte. It, H. Reiliy, 1-944 Ptc. N. IS. Reynolds, 10/2718 Pte. H.' Richardson, I 25/138 Sorgt. W. L. Roberts, 11/2210 } Pte. A. Roberts, 10,355 Pte. A. Roberts. 11/533 Driver F. , Robinson, 10/1636 Scrgt. W. AV. Ross, 10/3076 Pte. E. A. S. Rowntree, 24/1187.Corpl. ] T. L. Saunders, 10/1337 Pte. J. Simp- j son, 23/885 Pte. P. Sinnott, 24/2288 Rflmn. A. S. Smith, 24/1200 Rflmn. J. Stevens, 8/296 Pte, A. Stewart. 20,444 Pte. D. Stewart, 6'1994 Pte. T. Sullivan. 6/2771 Pte. G. A. Swanson, 23/1838 Pte. A. Sykes, 26/1730 Rflmn. AV. 11. Taylor, 10/419 Pto. K. Tainon, 10/675 Pte. A. J. Thomson, 25/290 I Mnin. !">. Thomson, 0/2236 Pte. R, J. j J. Thompson, 12'2173 Pte. J..V. Trc- i vethan, 24/180G Mum: R. Uro. 25/1186 I llflinii. n. C. Wallace, 6/2314,50rgt. R. I AVarburton, 10;3_120 'Pte. J. Watts, j 6/2332 Pte. J. Wells, 15/3 a Gunner A. 'J , '. Wist, 11/622 Tpr. C. — Westiield, 26/486 Riiran. T. G. O. "White, .2/1336 Bnmbdr. H. 11. AVilliams, 24/1517 Rflmn. D. J. V'illiams, 22/471 Corpl. H. C. Wilson, 2,-357 Gunnor T. M. Wilson, '22;'599 Pte. A. Wilson. 10/2004 Pte. J. F. Woods, 25/345 Corpl. W. A. Wright, 10/2045 Pte. F. Wright, 10,116 Pto. H. Wynn-Williams. 23/2267 Corpl. H. Pren- | dorgast, 33,490 Pte. F. Wilson, 10/1743 Pte. W. J. Bishop, 2/2120 Gunner W. ! Fcrnnndos, 20,344 Pte. S. Herbert, ! 14.62S Ptp. AY. F. Hitehmaii, 20,161 Rflmn. S. Tsiiaos, 3/2200 Pto. A. H. Keen, 22,170 Rilmn. J. Murray. 11/953 Pte. J. Platz, 10/3705 Pte. AV. Pope, 2'1515 Driver AV. Range, 8/4480 Pto. T. Richmond, 23/SB4 Tpr. G. F. Silk, 93.850 Pte. D. Soutor. 16/408 Pto. Perora Tauri, 12/3016 Pte. R. Friis, 2j.SS3 RHmii. T. Humphrey, 23,857, Pte. I/. JT'Cirthv. 23/2009 Rflmn. J. J). Stitt, fl/ISPS Gunner T. Green.