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Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 July 1943, Page 4

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WAIRARAPA MEMBERS OF THE FURLOUGH DRAFT. ENTHUSIASM AT RAILWAY STATIONS. The Wairarapa members of the furlough draft of the Second N.Z.E.F., on extended leave, reached the district this morning by train. There were large crowds at the various railway stations en route, where the men were enthusiastically welcomed by relatives, friends and others. Representatives of local bodies and of the U.S.A, and a big muster of returned men of the Second N.Z.E.F. were among those present. Well over a thousand people were assembled on the platform as the train, which was running half an hour late, drew in to the accompaniment of the lively tooting of the engine whistle and cheers and waves from the crowd. Emotion overcame further demonstrations of enthusiasm for the time being, as relatives and friends greeted their long-sought soldier boys. Among those at the Masterton railway station to welcome the men were the Mayor, Mr T. Jordan, the Town Clerk, Mr G. T. O’Hara Smith, Mr R. E. Gordon Lee, chairman of the Masterton County Council, the County Clerk. Mr J. C. D. Mackley, and other councillors, and Mr H. J. Brass, president of the Wairarapa R.S.A. Complete arrangements were made by the Army authorities to provide Red Cross cars to transport the men to their destinations.

V.C. WINNER PASSENGER ON TRAIN. Standing on a carriage platform was Scond Lieutenant K. Elliott, who won the Victoria Cross at Ruweisat on July 15 last year. He was met by Mr Jordan and introduced to local body and R.S.A. representatives. A smile and a hearty handshake were forthcoming, but Second Liutenant Elliott had little to say. “They are waiting for you at Pahiatua,” cried someone as the train drew out. PATRIOTIC DINNER SOLDIERS TO BE ENTERTAINED. The Masterton Patriotic Committee will tender a dinner to the men at the Midland Hotel on Monday at 6.30 p.m. when it is hoped that all the men- who are on furlough will attend. The Wairarapa R.S.A. is also enter, taming the men at a social gathering in the Masonic Hall on Wednesday of next week. Second Lieutenant Elliott, V.C., has been invited to attend.

WAIRARAPA PARTY. The following are the names of the Wairarapa members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force who are returning: — Private Arthur L. W. Bailey, Hamua, Pahiatua; Driver Herbert C. Barrington, Masterton; Lance-Corporal Richard H. R. Bolderson, Martinborough; Temp. Corporal James F. Brasell, Martinborough; Gunner Clifford J. Burling, Newman, Eketahuna; Driver Eric A. Cameron, Masterton; Lance-Cor-poral Gordon B. Campbell, Kokotau, Carterton; Lance-Corporal Simon Campbell, Pahiatua; Private John K. Carswell, Matahiwi, Masterton; Corporal George Cheyne, Eketahuna; Private Clifford E. B. Clemas, Masterton; Private James A. Clune, Te Wharau; Staff Sergeant Caesar G. S. Cohen, Masterton; Private Maurice C. Cole, Masterton; Lance-Sergeant Togo N. N. Coley, Masterton; Corporal William A. Cragg, Masterton; Private William E. Crawley, Carterton; Private Rex O. L. Cross, Featherston; Lance-Corporal Alfred R. Dickason, Masterton; Corporal Hugh J. Duffy, Greytown; Private Francis G. Duncan, Masterton; Gunner Walter S. Dunn. Greytown; Lance Sergeant Felix J. Edwards, Featherston; Trooper Albert H. Elliott, Mauriceville West: Private Raymond M. Falloon, Bideford; Lance-Corporal James Farley, Martinborough; Private Claude K. Farrell, Waironga, Masterton; Sergeant Leonard R. Ford, Masterton; Temporary Lance-Corporal Rayfield C. Foster, Mauriceville West; Private Arthur E. Friend, Masterton; Sergeant Robert Glen, Masterton; Driver Victor W. Graham, Masterton; Corporal Sidney L. Gray, Te Wharau; Private William J. Greig, Masterton; Sergeant Charles W. Grigg, Pongaroa; Signalman Arthur C. Gunther, Masterton; Corporal Karl Gustofson, Rongomai, Eketahuna; Warrant Officer II Louis E. Hack, Carterton; Sapper Hugh V. Harold, Pongaroa; Private Frank Harrison, Masterton; Private Kelly Hawira, Carterton; Private Alan J. Henderson, Masterton; Gunner Frederick Henderson, Masterton; Private Kenneth J. Henshaw, Masterton; Private William Heperi, Mangatainoka; Signalman Daniel E. Hopkins, Martinborough; Temporary Sergeant George W. Jetfries, Putara, Eketahuna; Corporal lan R. Jensen, Hinemoa, Pahiatua; Second Lieutenant James R. Johnston, Masterton; Corporal John Johnston, Carterton; Private Lloyd D. Jones, Masterton; Gunner Noel E. Jones, Rongokokako, Eketahuna; Lance Corporal Alexander R. Kenny, Masterton; Private James Leeming,' Masterton; Driver Hugh M. Lennie, Masterton; Captain Gerald W. Lyon, Masterton; Sapper Erol A. McCann, Masterton; Lance-Corporal Maurice L. McCarthy, Martinborough; Lance Sergeant Robert C. McCartie, Masterton; Sapper Roderick McDonald, Eketahuna; Private David Mabey, Pahiatua; Private George P. Madsen, Masterton; Private Ronald W. Matthews, Mangamaire; Sergeant Percy A. Mortensen, Pahiatua; Corporal Arthur H. Mudgway, Masterton; Corporal Sidney J. Munn, Masterton; Sergeant Ronald A. Newland, Masterton; Private Thomas I. Nicol, Martinborough; Driver Thorkield F. Nielsen, Eketahuna; Lance-Corporal Stanley G. Nunnerley, Pahiatua; Lance-Corporal Joseph P. Paask, Masterton; Private Francis D. Pahl. Masterton; Private G. Philpott, Martinborough; Trooper Roy H. W. Richards, Greytown; Temporary Corporal Francis C. Ryan, Eketahuna; Temporary Corporal "William L. Shepherd, Featherston; Bombadier Allan L. Simmonds, Featherston; Private Edward W. Sinclair, Pahiatua; Sergeant Arthur G. Smith, Pahiatua; Corporal Thomas W. B. Smith, Masterton; Staff Sergeant Sidney H. Spicer, Masterton; Private Archie G. Stevenson, Master-

ton; Driver Gerald Stewart, Martinborough; Signalman Charles E. Thomson, Alfredton; Lance Sergeant. Leonard G. Thorne, Masterton; Private Haigh T. R. Tinworlh, Pongaroa; Sergeant Sydney H. Ussher, Martinborough; Acting Corporal Harry Warman, Martinborough; Private Hugh S. Welch, Masterton, Temporary Corporal Herbert H. Williams, Masterton; Corporal Reuben Wright, Greytown. Other members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force who recently returned to Now Zealand are:—Private Stuart O. Munro. Martinborough; Sapper Oliver C. Reid, Carterton. SCENE AT CARTERTON THREE MEN WELCOMED. There was a large crowd at the Carterton railway station this morning to give a cheery welcome to the Carterton party returned from overseas. Only three of the Carterton party ailived, Corporal Johnstone, Private Crawley and Sapper Reid. The remainder will arrive tonight. The men were welcomed by the Mayor, Mr D. L. Taverner. Mr Ben Roberts, M.P., was among those present. As the train left the station hearty cheers were given for the party travelling north.

DAY OF DAYS SOLDIERS EXUBERANTLY GLAD TO BE BACK. TOUCHING GREETINGS FROM KITH AND KIN. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July 12. Bronzed, fit, smiling, and exuberantly glad to be back, some thousands ot the main body of New Zealand soldieis 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 roadlittle 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 had 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-deserved 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 I your furlough will be a happy one.

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) sept 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.”