AUSTRALIAN AIRMEN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 December 1939, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN AIRMEN

FIRST UNIT IN ENGLAND WELCOME ON ARRIVAL. MEN BEING POSTED TO COASTAL COMMAND. An announcement that the first contingent of Australian forces had arrived in England was broadcast by Daventry last night. They consisted of Royal Air Force units and landed at a port on the south coast. Their first experience of war service will be with the British Coastal Command. Messages of welcome were read from the Air Marshal, the Australian High Commissioner in London and the Australian Air Minister. “We can assure our Australian listeners that England is getting ready to welcome them as heartily as their predecessors in the Great War," said Daventry. The men looked very smart in their dark blue uniforms and sang and cheered as they lined the rail. MESSAGES OF WELCOME AUSTRALIA’S EFFORT IMPRESSES BRITAIN. COMRADES IN GREAT CAMPAIGN. (Received This Day, 10.10 a.m.) The men of the first squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force to arrive in England since the outbreak of war were received with a civic welcome by the Mayor at their port of landing this morning. They are fully trained and represent all branches of the service but before going on active service will undergo further training in England. Wing Commander L. V. Lachal, who is in command of the squadron, was among those who met the men on their arrival. Air Commodore T. E. B. Howe, welcoming them on behalf of the British Air Minister, said: “We have all been greatly impressed in this country with the ready response which Australia has made to the Empire air training scheme and also the part she is taking in the production of aircraft independently of the Home Country.” Air Commodore Howe also conveyed a cordial welcome on behalf of the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Coastal Command. Wing Commander Lachal read the men a message from the Australian High Commissioner, in which he said: “Your safe arrival has given great pleasure both in Britain and Australia. You are representatives of an Air Force which has already established for itself an honourable position, in which you are called upon to perform and in which you are associated with the Royal Ail’ Force. You will, I know, maintain that tradition.” A message from the Australian Air Minister read: “A great responsibility I rests upon you. You will be comrades in a great and just campaign with men of the Royal Air Force and Australia is confident you will play your part in whatever sphere you may be called upon to serve. The people of Australia will follow your activities with the keenest interest and will look forward to your safe return when your task is done. May the best of good fortune attend you in this enterprise.” COMPLETE UNIT TO RETAIN AUSTRALIAN IDENTITY. WAR STATIONS TAKEN UP. (Received This Day, 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, December 26. The special correspondent of the Australian Associated Press says Australia’s first complete air unit on active service in Europe is now on British soil. Nearly two hundred Australian airmen, under the command of Flight-Lieutenant D. A. Cameron, disembarked at a southern port to man the Sunderland Flying-boat Squadron, which will retain its Australian identity' but will operate as a unit of the Royal Air Force Coastal Command. The contingent is all in fine fettle. Most of them are fitters, riggers and wireless operators. The squadron’s officers are already at the base. The new arrivals entrained immediately to take up their war stations. Mr S. M. Bruce (Australian High Commissioner) and Sir Kingsley Wood (Air Minister) sent special messages to the contingent, welcoming it as the vanguard of the great force that Australia was sending overseas. DOMINION FORCES SMALLER CONTRIBUTION OF MEN. UNCERTAIN POSITION IN FAR EAST. LONDdN, December 25. High officials indicate that in view of the huge air and industrial efforts of the Dominions and the uncertain position in the Far East, it is considered unlikely that the Dominions will supply as many divisions for overseas service as in the last war. This might mean a substantial reduction in the number of Dominion soldiers, because the numerical strength of a single British division is considerably smaller than in the last war. though its firing power is greater. Mechanisation has reduced the number of front-line troops and has greatly increased the numbers required in the back lines in order to keep one man in the front line.