DAY OF DAYS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 July 1943, Page 4

DAY OF DAYS

SOLDIERS EXUBERANTLY GLAD TO BE BACK. TOUCHING GREETINGS FROM KITH AND KIN. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Bronzed, fit, smiling, and exuberantly glad to be back, some thousands of the main body of New Zealand soldiers today returned on a well-earned furlough, fresh from active service on the North African fronts. The soldiers are men who left New Zealand with the First, Second and Third echelons and the Fourth, Fifth and Sixth brigades. All the married men were given leave and the quota was made up of single men from these echelons, who decided their lot by ballot. The weather was a typical Wellington mid-winter day, with a cold southerly drizzle beating in from the sea, but it did not in any way dampen the enthusiasm of those who streamed to the wharf to greet friends and relatives. Once the word got around that the soldiers were coming off, a veritable pilgrimage started, and if the soldiers were glad to be back, their folk were doubly so. People shouted themselves hoarse as they picked out a familiar face on the packed deck of the transport, and excitement grew as the men began to come off with their packs. Personal greetings were touching, and emotion was given free play as husbands ,sons and fathers were embraced in the rain. They stopped anywhere, in the middle of the road — little groups of people who had found each other again. Passers-by smiled indulgently, and hurried on to seek their own kith and kin. It was a day of days —a reward for years of hope and prayers and patient longing.

BEST ARRANGEMENTS POSSIBLE. Mr Fraser said the best possible arrangements under the circumstances had been made for the notification of next-of-kin and he hoped everyone would appreciate the efforts that had been made in this direction, and for the rapid transport of the men to their homes by the Army authorities, the Post and Telegraph Department, the Railways Department, shipping companies and many other organisations and individuals who had co-op-erated in the big task. Mr Fraser, in conclusion, said he hoped the members of the draft, who

bad so well earned a respite from active campaigning, would enjoy their stay in New Zealand and that, when their furlough came to an end, they would rejoin the Division refreshed and ready to play whatever part was allotted to them in smashing the enemy. under their great leader, General Freyberg, who, during his recent tour of the Dominion, had been given such a well-fleserved and overwhelming welcome wherever he went. WELCOME SPEECHES. The welcome speeches, carried through a loud-speaker system, were brief and .to the point. The Prime Minister said: “We owe you a debt we cannot adequately repay and hope your furlough will be a happy one. He paid a tribute to their deeds and said all who had returned deserved the very best their country could place at their disposal. . Others who spoke were the chairman of the Harbour Board, the Mayor, Lieut.-General Puttick, Mr Tai Mitchell and the Hon W. Perry, who expressed the pride of the old diggers in what the new digger had achieved. The master of the transport paid a special tribute: “You carry a good reputation,” he said, “and known all over the world with the reputation of brave fighters. I consider it an honour to have brought you home.”

GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S GREETING. The Governor-General (Sir C. Newall) sent the following message to Brigadier Kippenberger and all ranks of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force returning to the Dominion on furlough: “As you are so soon to be separated, I am taking the earliest opportunity of sending this message of welcome to you all. Arrangements are being made for you to reach your homes, where a great welcome is awaiting you, as quickly as possible, and although I shall have no chance of seeing you all together, I hope to see many of you while you are in New Zealand. We are all very proud of you and very grateful. You have added fresh lustre to the fair name of your country and Empire. The fame of your valour in Greece, Crete, Egypt, Libya and Tunisia will live in history. After the King’s visit to North Africa last month, his Majesty sent the following message: ‘lt was a source of deep regret to me that I did not have an opportunity of seeing the New Zealand troops, who have fought so magnificently in the recent campaign.’ I hope,” continued the Governor-Gen-eral, “that you will all find your families and your friends well, and I wish each one of you every happiness during your well-earned furlough.” I