BACK FROM EGYPT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 October 1940, Page 6

BACK FROM EGYPT

INVALIDED SOLDIERS MEMBERS OF THE FIRST ECHELON. ACCOUNT OF CAMPAIGN CONDITIONS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Twenty-six members of the First Echelon who have been invalided back from Egypt have arrived. Twenty-eight left Egypt, but two missed their steamer connection in Australia. Tropic tan and good spirits make it difficult to realise that the men are on the sick list. None of them have seen any active service, though most of them were for a time in forward positions at Mersa Matruh and Sidi Barrani. Asked about conditions in Egypt, they spoke with feeling of the heat, sand and flies. One day before they left the temperature was 122 in the shade. The journey back to New Zealand occupied about eight weeks, via India. The only sign the men saw of the enemy was when Italian planes bombed Cairo. Apart from heat, sand and flies, condition in the Base Camp, they sayr were excellent. The food was good and* well cooked. Arrangements for entertainments were very satisfactory indeed.

Major-General Freyberg was described as very popular. The men were met by an officer from Area Headquarters, Wellington, with instructions about their immediate movements. Each man received £2 of pay before coming ashore. They were taken to Area Headquarters and examined by a medical board. One goes into hospital. The remainder have been given leave to visit their homes. The Auckland members leave this afternoon, Southerners tonight and Hawke’s Bay and Taranaki men tomorrow morning. The party includes three men who are now returned soldiers twice over —Privates J. Hunt, T. Pitts and R. Martin, who saw service in the last war. Private Hunt was then with a naval patrol. This time he is with a machine-gun battalion. Privates Pitts and Martin were in the infantry on both occasions.

Following is a complete list of the men back from Egypt, including the two who missed their steamer in Australia: — Privates R. W. Alexander, Timaru; J. Barnes, Christchurch; S. W. Bennett, Christchurch; C. G. Burn, Auckland; J. Cowie, Cromwell; E. W. Dawson, Christchurch; Driver R. V. Denson, Christchurch; Privates G. C. Fic-ld, Christchurch; C. F. Fischer, Dannevirke; R. T. Gutsell, Dunedin; J. M. Hall. Christchurch; Gunner G. J. Hammond, Christchurch; Privates J. H. Hawkins, N.S.W. (sent to the Wellington Hospital with appendicitis); Privates J. Hunt, Christchurch; J. Lee, Westport; Sapper T. Lynch. Auckland; Private R. H. Martin, Greymouth; Signaller R. C. Milligan, Otahuhu (missed boat en route); Privates E. V. Morrish, Whangarei; A. Nielsen, Onehunga; T. J. E. Pitts, Dunedin; W. L. J. Pleasants, Palmerston North; Sapper B. Polking Orne, Auckland (missed boat en route); Sapper J. F. Rowlands, Auckland; Corporal L. Turner, Auckland (in charge of party); Signaller K. Von Lubbe, Auckland; Lance-Corporal J. H. Williams, Auckland: Private J. S. Yarnton, Auckland.