ANZAC INVASION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 August 1940, Page 9

ANZAC INVASION

UNEXPECTED ARRIVAL AT CAPE TOWN GREAT WELCOME IN CITY. ALL BLACKS IN RUGBY BATTLE. An Anzac invasion of Capo Town was witnessed towards the end of May when Australian and New Zealand troops called there en route to Britain. Despite their unexpected arrival, thousands of Anzacs were warmly welcomed and royally entertained both by public bodies and private citizens, a South African paper states. Although the weather was not at its best the troops were taken as far afield as possible in the limited time, and the country folk of the Western Province took full advantage of the opportunity of associating themselves with Cape Town's welcome. At Stellenbosch and other country towns the Anzacs were welcomed into Afrikaans and English homes, and many friendships were cemented. The troops arrived one Sunday afternoon in big troopships, which, grey and unheralded, had crept into Table Bay. Cape Town was theirs while they were there. They took posssession of the city, but they waited until the Monday before making felt the force of, "Australia will be there.” Then Adderley Street was choked with Australians and New Zealanders. Soldiers were directing the traffic, careering about o butchers’ boys’ bikes astride wagon horses or queuing up outside bars. Tens of thousands of long beers were consumed.

Every Cape Town girl had a friend from the Antipodes, a friend who wanted to wear her hat in exchange for his or if she had curls wanted to snip them off and take them to the front as a souvenir.

Dozens squeezed into motor cars and over hoods and bonnets, wise-cracking to the South African drivers who showed them the sights. Not less popular than the soldiers were the Anzac nursing sisters, the cream of their profession in two Dominions. They were warmly welcomed by Cape Town nurses. Memories of the All Blacks and the Wallabies were revived by a stern struggle between an Anzac team and University of Cape Town’s Grand Challenge team at Newlands Rugby ground. The thousands of spectators were treated to pne of the most enjoyable games seen there this season. The Anzacs, although they lacked practice and had not played as a team before, went down by only five points, the University winning by 8 points to 3. The soldiers' team was composed entirely of New Zealand provincial players and included two All Blacks in E. W. Tindill (scrum-half) and Hearn (hooker). The others played against the Springboks in provincial matches, including Fowler, cf Taranaki, who said that he retained very vivid recollections of the shoving power of Martin, Lotz and Nel. who had formed the Springbok front rank on that occasion. Tindill, who comes from Wellington, did not play in the Tests against the Sprinkboks, but has represented New Zealand both at fly-half and scrum half and has also played cricket for his country. He said that it was a matter of great disappointment to New Zealand enthusiasts when the 1940 tour of South Africa had to be called off. "The Springboks certainly taught us a few things, but we had high hopes of coming out on top in the Tests'.” remarked Tindill. Hearn was a highly successful hooker on the last All Black tour of A.ustralin and did very well in the trials for the South African tour against the famous Lambourn. who had hooked against the Springboks. Another member of the team. Donoghue. was one of the outstanding forwards in the New Zealand trials for the South African tour, while King, of Canterbury, also had a chance to make the 1940 team. The New Zealanders —all members of the Anzac Expeditionary Force, which has since arrived in England—were delighted with the opportunity of playing on the famous Newlands ground, of which they had heard so much, and they put up an excellent show against the full strength of the University first team. Although not playing-fit. the New held Varsity to an B—38 —3 result, the winning try coining in the last minute. A feature cf a splendid game was the way Hearn raked the ball from Du ven age. The New Zealand Service team was composed as follows: Greer (Canterbury): Gillespie (South Canterbury), Neighbours (Buller). Burgess (Canterbury) and Bartlett (Marlborom/h): Vincent (Canterbury), and Tindill (Wellington): Graham (Otago), Hearn (Canterbury), Fowler (Taranaki), Ashmann (Hawke’s Bay), Gardiner (West Coast), Foreman (Otago), King (Canterbury), and Donoghue (Wellinei c,n). The proceeds of the match went to the Mayor’s Fund, over £lOO being realised.