WELCOMED HOME

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 March 1943, Page 2

WELCOMED HOME

SOLDIERS FROM OVERSEAS ENTERTAINED AT SMOKE CONCERT. PRIDE IN FIGHTING QUALITIES. At a smoke concert tendered by the Masterton and District Patriotic Committee to men of the 2nd N.Z.E.F. returned from overseas, held in the Soldiers’ Hostel on Saturday evening, Mr J. Robertson, M.P.. extended, on behalf of the district, a warm welcome home. He said they, had every pride in the fighting qualities of their men overseas, to whom all in New Zealand owed a debt of gratitude. In the words' of Mr W. Perry, president of the R.S.A., “in exploits they had out-Anzac-ed the Anzacs.” Mr Robertson said that of the fighting forces gone overseas there were now 7200 returned. Of these 2100 were not yet discharged, 3200 were re-absorbed in civil employment, and 400 were recuperating or in hospital. Mi’ Jordan, Mayor of Masterton, in welcoming those present, instanced they, very high regard with which their y boys were held as a fighting unit with the Eighth Army, as quoted from a London daily paper, and paid a tribute to the Maori fighting forces, who were so highly regarded as members of the 2nd N.Z.E.F. Mr P .G. Ramsay, president of the Soldiers’ Hostel, in welcoming those returned from active service, extended to them the privilege of membership in the Soldiers’ Club, made available to all returned men in Masterton and district through the generous gifts of the late Mr Whatman and others associated with him in patriotic fund collection in the last war Entertainment was provided by Messrs Harry Hall, Fred Price and Miller Hope. A hearty vote of thanks was passed at the conclusion of the gathering to the ladies’ committee responsible for the supper provided.