SERVICEMEN HOME

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 199, 20 May 1944, Page 6

SERVICEMEN HOME

Action In Widely Diverse Fields A small draft of servicemen, who had seen service in widely-diverse fields of action, recently returned to New Zealand. One of the men, after being . taken prisoner and escaping, carried on the fight, by joining the Greek guerrillas, with --whom he found plenty of thrilling action and excitement during the period that he was posted mist-iug. , Others had more recently experienced the bitter conditions of fighting "in -Italy. “Things were very sticky in with the division doing heavy slogging, said one of them. “It was tough going tn heavy mud. with everyone and everything knowing what it was like to be bogged. In spite of the difficulties, the division had been doing very well, and the hopes which had been entertained when these servicemen left the scene that improved conditions would mean better progress were now apparently being realized. Men of the Navy who returned with the troops from the Middle East bad also seen wide and varied action, including in at least one case a part in the battle with the Bismarck. A number of them had served in the Home Fleet; others were from New Zealand’s latest cruiser, the Gambia. There were also a number ot survivors from a vessel which had been torpedoed. Patrol and convoy work in icy regions and service on minesweepers hiid contributed to the wartime experience of these New Zealanders in the Navy. Some, too. hud quite a fill of wartime liveliness on the little motor torpedoboats. Some could speak with first-hand knowledge of tank-landing craft and the Fleet Air Ann. , . Appreciation was expressed <n the hospitality shown to the men b.v the Y.M.L.A. in Alexandria, Mrs. Spence and Noel Dieberzcit living specially mentioned. Tlie returning party was officially welcomed bv the aeting-Prime Minister. Mr. Sullivan, tlie Minister of Defence. Mr. Jones, the representative of the U.S.A.. Jlr. Deadlev. and other officials. Sub-Lieutenant D. D. Lightbourne, of tlie Fleet Air Arm. was in charge of the naval men and Lieut. J. V. Ross. Auckland. was in charge of the soldiers.

LIST OF PERSONNEL

The following were In a drnft’of Second N Z F. F. personnel who recently returned to' New Zealand. The rank is private unless otherwise stated: Lomax, Sapper, Roy Vaughan: father. H. Lomas. Paekakariki. Lonsdale. Lance-Corporal. Edward James; wife, Mrs. K. Lonsdale. Wellington. McConnell, Gunner, Robert John; mother, Mrs. E. JL McConnell. Wellington. Manecr, Driver, Percy Eric: sister. .Miss JI. Miinccr. -Makiriklri. Grace, Sapper, Clarence William Frederick: wife, Mrs. T. E. Grace. Wellington. Hooper. Corporal, lllehard Aynsleigh: mother, Mrs. 11. R. Hooper. Greenmeadows. .Moiklejohu, Corporal. Bruce Verner: father, Mr. L. S. Jlelklejohn. Ruakakii. Morgan. Ernest John; father, Mr. A. E. Morgan, Hastings. Prh-e, Herbert Edward: mother. Mrs. A. G. It. Price. Sanson. Street, Staff Sergeant, Allan Frank: father, Mr. T. C. Street, it allot 11.