SOLDIERS BACK FROM EGYPT

Southland Times, Issue 24880, 21 October 1942, Page 5

SOLDIERS BACK FROM EGYPT

Contingent Reaches Invercargill One of the largest contingents of sick and wounded soldiers to arrive back from overseas service reached Invercargill by a special hospital train. Most of the men had received wounds in the recent fighting in Egypt and the party included seven stretcher patients who were immediately taken to hospital. The majority of the walking cases were scheduled for outpatient hospital treatment. The party included the following:— Lieutenant P. G. McLauchlan, 86 Clyde street, Invercargill; Sergeant J. W. Abum, 31 Fox street, Invercargill; Sergeant W. F. Hardwicke, 8 Leith street, Invercargill; Sergeant W. H. Payne, Limehills; Corporal A. Shand, Otapiri R.D.; Gunner J. McCrostie, 38 Grey street, Invercargill; Gunner A. Morrison, 233 Tweed street, Invercargill; Gunner J. R. Tocker, 59 Earnslaw street, Invercargill; Signalman D. McInnes, Don street, Invercargill; Driver J. Hastie, 367 Tay street, Invercargill; Sapper J. A. R. Thomsen, 16 Short street, Invercargill; Private O. J. Henderson, Panton street, Invercargill; Private F. McMurtrie, Winton; Private H. H. Orr, 62 Yarrow street, Invercargill; Private E. R. Purdue, 52 Newscastle street, Invercargill; Private G. Calder, Bluff; Private B. W. Hogan, 157 Teviot street, Invercargill; Private J. T. Kelly, 170 A Bann street, Bluff. Others who left the train at their home stations before reaching Invercargill were Private J. A. Coster, Mataura; Corporal G. J. Gibson, Heriot; Private G. E. Green, Riversdale; Private E. K. Slocombe, Riversdale; Private A. Miller, Wendon Valley R.D.; Private B. Watson, Gore-Waikaka R.D. Several Southland men were admitted to hospital at Christchurch or Dunedin and others remained at northern centres to visit relations or friends. FRESH AND CHEERFUL A large number’ of next-of-kin, relations and friends of the soldiers waited patiently for the arrival of the train, which steamed slowly info the station after a journey from Lyttelton lasting just over 20 hours. For the comfort of the men the train travelled at a reduced speed and all appeared to be particularly fresh and cheerful on arrival. Captain R. Borland, sick and wounded officer, Southern Military District, was in charge of the train and others on board were Staff SergeantMajor R. Grieve, sick and wounded officer, Invercargill area; Staff Sergeant R. Berry, sick and wounded headquarters, Southern Military District; Sisters Dodds and Cordery and six Red Cross V.A.D’s. On the platform to give an official welcome to the men were the Mayor (Mr A. Wachner), Major H. M. Hopper and Lieutenant G. R. W. Barnes (Army Department), Mr J. D. Campbell and Mrs E. Sinclair (Red Cross Society), Dr A. Owen-Johnston (Southland Provincial Patriotic Council), Mr W. F. H. Stone (Invercargill Returned Services Association), Mrs S. C. Bingham, Mrs A. C. Knight (Joint Council of the Order of St. John and the Red Cross Society), arid Mr G. Rogerson (Hospital District Committee). The transport section of the Red Cross Society met the train with motor-cars and conveyed the wounded men to their homes, and the Southland Hospital Board’s three ambulances took the seven co’t cases to the hospital. MAYOR’S WELCOME “I want to say a few words of welcome and tell you how very pleased I am to see you back again,” said the Mayor. He thanked those who had turned out to welcome the men, mentioning specially the Red Cross transport section. He said he was sure New Zealand would do everything possible to restore the men speedily to health, and he hoped that the Government would make every effort to rehabilitate them to civilian life to a standard that they thoroughly deserved. “The Red Cross feels that it is its duty to do all it can to make the men comfortable on their return from war service,” said Mr Campbell. He added that he was glad personally to welcome the men back home. The Patriotic Council and the Returned Services Association were anxious to do everything possible to help the returned men back into civil life, said Dr Owen-Johnston. “Come along to us and we will see what we can do,” he said. WELCOME AT GORE The four men who left the train at Gore were met at the station by Mesdames T. L. Macdonald and D. M. Cochrane, representing the Red Cross Society, the Mayor and Mayoress, Mr and Mrs W. D. Shelton, and Messrs W. H. Sadlier and G. L. Gerken, representing the Gore R.S.A. Private Green was taken to the Gore Public Hospital and the other men were able to proceed to their homes. The Red Cross representatives distributed comforts among the men, and Mr and Mrs Shelton and Messrs Sadlier and Gerken extended a welcome to them. Lieutenant Norman Forbes, of Gore, who has been invalided home, has arrived at Gore. He was welcomed at the station by the Mayor.