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Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 51, 29 October 1915, Page 4

Welcome Home!

STRATFORD BOYS RETURN TO-NIGHT. TOFUA’S CONTINGENT IN THE BEST OF HEALTH. The news of the return of several Stratford representatives who have been invalided home from Gallipoli will, no doubt, attract a large crowd of residents to thy local railway station this evening to await the arrival of the mail train. A surprise was sprung upon us this afternoon hv the receipt of a wire from Palmerston North from Private Charles Stuart Kelly, who, it will he remembered, left the staff of the “Stratford Evening Post” to do his bit for the Empire. A hearty welcome is sure to be given the returned men, who, it is pleasing to note, are all in the best of health. His Worship the Mayor (Mr J. W. Boon) has also received word o? the arrival of half a dozen, men by the mail, and it is understood that a semi-official reception will he given to the returned soldiers. In this connection. His Worship states that there will he hardly time to arrange for an elaborate display, but be asks the shopkeepers to “light up” for the arrival of the train. Here is Private Kelly’s message to the “Post”:—

Palmerston North, October 2J. The soldiers returning by the Tofna had a splendid reception right through. The welcome home commenced with a dip of the Flag at Cape Saunders Lighthouse, and continued' through to Christchurch, there being cheers at all the wayside stations. At Dunedin and Wellington there were hig functions. The Stratford men returning to-day are:— Davis (Otago Mounted). Wilson, son of Air A. F. Wilson, Inspector of Noxious Weeds, Sergeant in the Medical Corps. Turnbull (Hawke’s Bay Company), Blake (Hawke’s Bay Company, Rae, from Cardiff (tenth Otago Company). C. S. Kelly (eighth Otago Company"). The across trip was excellent, and , all the men are in the best (^health.