HOME FROM THE WAR

Evening Star, Issue 24330, 20 October 1942, Page 2

HOME FROM THE WAR

OTAGO SICK AKO WOUNDED RETURN

ORDERLY PUBLIC WELCOME

Prior to the return home last night of a large draft of Otago sick and wounded men invalided back from the Middle Fast the Army authorities had requested the general public to refrain from being in attendance at the station when the hospital train was due to

arrive, yet when the train did pull in at 10,30 there was a very largo crowd present, many of whom obviously had ao direct connection with the returning hien. However, the crowd was an orderly one. and the authorities to-day expressed pleasure at the way in which those present behaved, and there was no interference with the work of the detraining officers, in the past there have been occasions when returned men have been virtually mobbed by friends and relatives too eager to welcome them. This has only excited the men unnecessarily and has not benefited their condition. The restraint shown last night had an obvious effect on the men, who, despite the long, arduous journey, departed for their homes in a happy frame of mind. Full opportunity was, of course, given for quick welcomes, even of the men who were conveyed direct to the Hospital, and there were the usual scones of joy and pleasure as families wore reunited,

An interesting feature of the occasion was tho arrival of two brothers, Gunner D. M. J<lckhoft' and Bombardier H. Eckhoff, of Musselburgh. Had Private B. McEwan, of Moa Creek, returned instead of staying in the north, there would have been another instance of brothers returning, as the party included Private W. McEwan, whose address is now Mosgiel. WELCOMING PARTY. Among those who welcomed the party were the mayor (Mr A. H. Allen), who also represented the Otago. Provincial Patriotic Council; Colonel J. G. Jeffery, the fortress commander; Mr S. G. Scoular (president) and Air O. L. Kerens (secretary), representing the Dunedin Returned Services’ Association; and Mr N. D. Anderson, Mayor of St. Kilda. A request from members of the 2nd Battalion, Otago Regiment, that .they should be allowed an opportunity of paying a tribute to returned comrades, was granted by the Army authorities, and volunteers from the unit formed a guard of 30. as well as providing a party of 15 stretcherbearers. ~•<

The Red Cross Transport Detachment, which was responsible for the 'transportation of the men to their homes, was called upon to provide the largest number of cars yet. The society also provided meals for men on the train who were passing through to the south.- Drivers and three ambulances were provided by the St. John Ambulance Association to convey patients to the Hospital, this group working under Transport Officer Black.

In addition to the names which were published last night, the following Otago men travelled by the train;— Lieut. J. H, Cameron; Mrs J. L. Cameron, North rd, Oamaru (w.). Lieut. F. H. McC'.uskey; Mrs M. D. MeCiuskey, 1 Renfrew st, Dunedin (w.). Lieut, h. C. Stephens; Mrs V. D. Counseil Stephens, Box 426, Dunedin (w.). Lieut. L. S. Summers; Mrs A. C. Summers, Seao'.iit (w.). Second/Lieut. A. S. McMillan; .Mrs N. A.

McMillan, 32 Burwood Ave., Dunedin

(w.). Pte. A. W. Arnold; Mrs A. M. Arnold

Clyde st, Balclutha (m.). Pte. .1. J. L. Ballantine; Mrs C. W. Ballan tine, 49 Alexander st. Dunedin (m.).

Gnr. J. L. Briggs; Mrs T. A. Briggs, Tomahawk (w.). Gnr. F. Buchanan; Mrs L. Buchanan, 38 Richmond st, Dunedin (w.). Pte. D. Crichton; Mrs R. Polkington, 91 Norwood st, Dunedin (sister). Gnr. C. J. Davidson; Mr G. L. Davidson, Clyde (f.). Pte. F. J. Driver; Mrs C. P. Driver, Hay-

ward’s Point (ni.). Dvr. F. L. Duncan; Mrs V. E. E. Duncan, 12 Tolcarne Ave., Dunedin (in.). Bdr. H. G. Eckhoff; Mrs I. St. C. Eckhoft 169 Musselburgh Rise, Dunedin (in.).

Onr. A. R. Fiddes; Mrs L. Fiddes, Windsor, Oamaiu (ni.). Pte. E. W. Graham; Mrs S. Graham, 105 Leith st, Dunedin (in,). Pie. W. ,T. Hacked) Mrs S. C. Hacked, 6 Stansfield st, Dunedin (w.). Pte. D. McG. Herron; Mrs N. B. Herron, 10 Bother st, Oamaru (m.). L/Cpl 1 . J. O’. Hoskins; Mrs C. Hoskins, Carey’s Bay, Port Chalmers (m.).

Pte. .1. A. Jamieson; Mrs J. J. Jamieson, Main rd. Burkes (w.). Pte. J. S. Kenny; Mr J. Kenny, Bush rd, Mosgiel (f.). Pte. B. McEwan; Mr P. McEwan, Moa Creek (f.). Sgmn. A. R. B. Mclnnes; Mrs E. J. Melnnes, 28 Brunei st, Morningtpn (m.). L/Cpl. D. S. McLean; Mr K. McLean, Oamaru (f.). Sgmn. M. D. McVeigh; Mrs L. McVeigh, 18 Smith st, Dunedin. Pte. A. J. Miller; Mrs W. A. Parker, 52 Eskvale st, St. Kilda (s.). Gnr. O’. W. Muir; Mrs F. J. Muir, Hawoa Flat (m.). Dvr. L. D. Murtagh; Mrs M. E. Murtagh, 10 Kirriemuir st, Clyde Hill, Dunedin (w.). Pte. W. G. O’Connell; Mr W. A. O’-Conncll, 171 Melbourne st, Dunedin (f.). S/Sgt. R. J. Philip; Miss Ethel Philip, 10 Fairfax st, Dunedin (s.). Pte. G. V. Pitches; Mrs R. Pitches, Ophir (in.). Sergt. W. A. Pitts; Mrs M. Pills, 47 Cranston st, Anderson’s Bay (m.). Pte. W. J. Plunkett; Mrs E. Plunkett. ■ 2 Asquith st, Dunedin (m.). Dvr. W Shaw; Mrs M. Shaw, Palmerston (m.). T/Bdr. A. P Smith; Mrs M. I. M. Smith, 38 Stuart si, Dunedin ,(w.). Sgt. W. J. Snroulc; M’-s H. L. Sproule. 6 Granville Terrace. Dunedin (w.). Pte. G E. Storey; Mr J. A. Storey, Cromwell (b.). Pie. G. R. Thomo-.on; Mrs S. F. D. Thompson, 73 Musselburgh Rise. Dunedin (m.). Pte. L. G. Waters; Mrs E. Waters, 59 Eglinton rd Dunedin (m.). Pte. G. W. Watson; Mrs E. Watson, 15 Driver st, Dunedin (m.)’.

The following men whose names appeal 1 in the above list are remaining in the north for a few days:—Privates B. McEnan, A. -I. Miller, and G. E. •Storey. The following, included in yesterday's list, also did not travel: Privates G. A. Calder, R. M. -lordan. Signalman J. H. Irvine, and Driver F,. J. Wells. HOSPITAL CASES. The members of the party who were conveyed to the Dunedin Hospital were as follows; ; Gunner C. Davidson, Driver F. Duncan. Private W„ Hackett. Private W. G. O’Connell, Gunner G, W. Clyde. Corporal T. F. Olsen. Private F. Driver. Driver -J. -Jackson, Private W. O’C. Hancox. Cornoral .1. Hoskins, Gunner 11. R. Kini (Whnkapntn). and Gunner W, FI. Fraser (invcrcargill).