HOME FROM THE WAR

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 246, 19 October 1942, Page 4

HOME FROM THE WAR

SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. DRAFT FROM MIDDLE EAST. P.A. WELLINGTON, Oct. 19. Reluctant to describe their experiences, another large draft of sick and wounded men has arrived back in New Zealand from the Middle East, where many of them had seen nearly three years of campaigning. They included an officer of a parachute unit, and a soldier who made an escape from enemy hands and crossed the Mediterranean in a submarine. Several nurses returned with the draft after service in the Middle East. Cordial welcomes were extended to the men by the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, the Minister for Defence, Mr Jones, the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Holland, the Mayor of Wellington, Mr Hislop; Mr Perry, M.L.C., president of the Returned Services Association ; Mr W. H. Price, chairman of the Wellington Harbour Board ; and Mr P. K. Paikea. Sir Harry Batterbee, High Commissioner for the United Kingdom, and Mr Adam Hamilton, were also present. Mr Jones conveyed the thanks of the country to the men for the honour they had brought it, and expressed the hope that those who suffered from serious difficulties would be able to overcome them. Mr Perry said that in his opinion they had more than worthily upheld the great traditions of Anzac. He hopecl that they would soon resurne their places in the civilian community for which they had fought so nobly and well. The medical officer in charge of the ship returned thanks for tributes which were paid to the work of the staff. He stated that when the ship left Egypt, there were 177 cot cases. When it arrived there were only 66 cot cases. There were 33 men who had lost a limb, and they were the most cheerful men- on the ship.