WARM WELCOME

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 21, 25 July 1945, Page 8

WARM WELCOME

MEN FROM EUROPE

EX-PRISONERS' STORIES

Little evidence of the privations and hardships suffered through long years of incarceration was shown in the appearance and bearing of the latest batch of released prisoners of war to return to New Zealand. Airmen as well as Army personnel were amongst those who had been prisoners of war.

Enthusiastic waving from most of the windows of the Social Security Department's building gave the members of the draft the first indication of the warmth of the welcome which awaited them, and when the Trentham Band, at the wharf to play its part in the home-coming, responded to a call for "Roll out the Barrel" the exuberance of the servicemen heightened. The servicemen lined the high decks of the vessel from stem to stern, and they were as happy a party as has touched port. The experiences of the prisoners of war were many and varied. Several of the soldiers had been through one of the toughest marches of the war — an 800-mile trek, under German guards, from Upper Silesia to Southern Bavaria. It started on January 22 when Russian shells were landing in the camp, and continued until the prisoners were released by American forces on May 1. On that march one soldier (a Canadian) was shot because of his making an attempt to escape, and the German responsible was not forgotten. "He was well dealt with afterwards," remarked one of the soldiers who had been there. Rations on that march were poor, but a little underhand work managed to produce more, not a little of it from the Czechs, who gave the Allied servicemen all they could. The hard going had its ■ effect upon physical condition, but this picked up greatly after contact was made with the Americans. Life in prisoner-of-war camps varied a good deal. Food was never plentiful. "It was the Red Cross service that kept us alive," remarked Captain J. Quilter, who was in charge of the Army draft which returned. The clothes and food worked wonders, as did the parcels from New Zealand, and all, said Captain Quilter, were grateful for what was done in that direction, as they were for the excellent treatment they received in England. '

HANDCUFFED BY GERMANS

Some of the men had experienced the handcuffing by the Germans. In one camp the prisoners had six months of it. The chains, however, were long enough to allow the hands a certain amount of movement,- and this movement was used to such effect as to break the handcuffs-. Attempts at breaks from captivity were many; the success attending them was varied. One airman, getting away in Italy, spent quite a time in the hills in working his way to freedom; another, already with a lucky escape in a crash, had exciting times in breaking from Germany; and so it was with many of them. The official welcome to the returned troops was given by the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser), the Minister of Defence (Mr. Jones), the High Commissioner for the United Kingdom (Sir Patrick Duff), Mr. T. L. Macdonald, M.P. (on behalf of the Leader of the Opposition), the chairman of the Harbour Board (Mr. W. H. Price), the Deputy Mayor (Mr. M. F. Luckie), and Mr. Lethaby (for the R.S.A.) Captain Quilter and Wing Commander D. Kain (who has been away for 10 years) replied on behalf of the returned personnel.

Mentioning that it was not many weeks ago that he was with General Kippenberger near the White Cliffs of Dover, where some of the men had been staying, Sir Patrick Duff said that he felt it a great privilege to be at the reception, his first of the kind in New Zealand. "Your country is proud of you," he said, "and so, too, is Great Britain. I do want to say how proud Great Britain is of you."

The disembarkation was carried out efficiently, and the dispatch of "the returned men to their homes was made expeditiously, those for Hawke's Bay, Poverty Bay, and Taranaki leaving by motor transport very soon after they had landed.

The following are the names of those whose addresses of next-of-kin are in or near Wellington :—

ARMY PERSONNEL.

Cpl. Atkins, S. F., Petone; Cpl. Bilby, 11., Eketahana-; Q.M.S. .B'lair, S. J. D. 8., Nelson; Pte. Bromell, E. D., Nelson; Gnr. Connor, E., Khandallah; Pte. Couper, J. A., Palmerstou North; Pte. Diivey, W. S., Upper Hutt; Sgt. Edwards, E. P., Otaki; Pte. Esplin, L. J., Hataitai; Pte. Foord, L. V., Wellington; Pte. Hearfleld, W. D., Kilbirnie; Dvr. Hudson, N. 8., Lower Hutt; Tpr. Irvine, G. 8., Wellington ; Cpl. McKenzie, A., Lower Hutt; Pte. McLaren, G. J., Palmerston North; Cpl. Meachen, P. J., Northland; Pte. Ogier, A. E., Palmerston North; L/Cpl. Petersen, J. 8., Eketahuna; Pte. Pike, J. A., Otaki; Pte. Pizzey, W. H., Wellington; Spr. Plowman, A. P., Wellington; Pte. Ryan, J. H., Lower Hutt; Sgt. Stephens, G. R., Berhampore; Pte. Tapa, R. T., Miramar; Pte. Tons, G. I. T., Levin; L/Cpl. Winter, S., Nelson; Pte. Woolcott, X. C. R., Kalwarra.

RETURNED AIRMEN

Flying Officer N. W. T. Beetham, D.F.C., Masterton; Flying Officer It. W. Boyens, Wellington; Flying Officer H. W. X. Budd, Wellington; Warrant Officer D. Carter, D.F.M., Wellington; Pilot Officer F. Glow, Wellington; Flight Lieutenant G. B. Green, Masterton; Flight Lieutenant I. H. Hanlon, D.F.C., Wellington ; Flight Lieutenant P. Haywood, Wellington; Flying Officer J. A. Jenkins, Wellington; Pilot Officer V. B. McKenzie, Palmerston North; Warrant Officer E. C. N. Miller, Masterton; Flight Lieutenant R. H. Newton, D.F.C., Wellington ; Flying Officer B. J. O'Connor, Stoke, Kelson ; Flying Officer V. Simmonds, Masterton ; Flying Officer A. L. Tauwhare, Masterton.

Prisoners of War.—Warrant Officer ,T. F. Coombs, Wellington; Pilot Officer G. H. Friis, Lower Hittt; Flying Officer L. P. O'Brien] Wellington : Warrant Officer A. F. Potter, Wellington ; Warrant Officer S. 11. Potter,' Wellington ; Warrant Officer A. B. Witton, Lower Hutt; Flight Lieutenant A. A. Stewart, Palmerston North; Flight Lieutenant T. g' Sullivan, Wellington; Flight Lieutenant i' L B. Tayloi, Wellington.