CAMPAIGN IN GREECE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 June 1941, Page 6

CAMPAIGN IN GREECE

EKETAHUNA OFFICER'S EXPERIENCE. Second Lieutenant J. A. Carroll, of the Auckland Battalion, writing to relatives in Eketahuna regarding his experiences in Greece, described the Greek people as wonderful. Athens was a beautiful city. Thousands and thousands of people greeted the troops, waving flags and shouting "English! English!" His platoon was a walking flower shop. Flowers and flags were put in their hats, uniforms, bags, in fact, everywhere. The people put thenarms round the soldiers and thanked them. Lieut. Carrol/ and another officer and twelve N.C.O.’s were sent on a reconnaissance in the mountains on donkeys and mules. They became lost on Mt. Olympus for two days and two nights. They came across two- Australian officers who were also lost and joined forces. Captain Webb, of Rotorua, second in command of the Battalion, found them. The New Zealand troops were most enthusiastic when they arrived in Greece and saw green trees and grass and smelt the fresh air of the mountains after the sand, dust and flies of Egypt. Second Lieutenant Carroll lost all his equipment and uniform. a gold wristlet watch and even his pipe. He only had what he stood up in. His friend, Lieutenant Clarke Mac Lean. is among those missing. He was in the Public Trust Office in Pahiatua at one time.