WELCOMED HOME

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 July 1943, Page 2

WELCOMED HOME

SOLDIERS ON FURLOUGH ENTERTAINED BY PATRIOTIC COMMITTEE. DINNER AT MIDLAND HOTEL. A warm and cheery atmosphere prevailed at a “welcome home’’ dinner held at the Midland Hotel, Masterton, last night for men on furlough irom the Middle East. The dinner was given by the Masterton Patriotic Committee and was attended by about forty soldiers. The Mayor, Mr T. Jordan, presided and among those present were the member for Masterton, Mr J. Robertson, the chairman of the Masterton County Council, Mr R. E. Gordon Lee, the county clerk, Mr J. C. D. Mackley, and the Town Clerk, Mr G. T. O’Hara Smith. Mr O’Hara Smith was responsible for the thorough and complete arrangements which made the dinner such a marked success. In welcoming Sister Hubbard and the men, Mr Jordan referred to Masterton’s earthquake damage and said the municipal buildings had been so badly damaged that the civic welcome they would like to have given the men could not be held. He acknowledged an offer by the Prime .Minister for the Government to share in the cost of the welcome to the men and said the reply would be: “The honour is ours.” They were pleased to see Sister Hubbard and the occasion was unique in that it was the first time since the dinners were held for the men of the Second Division that a sister had been with them. It was a pleasure to him personally, as fifty years ago he and Sister Hubbard’s father had gone to school together. Mr H. J. Brass, president of the Wairarapa Returned Services Association, said all had watched with pride the exploits of the New Zealand Division from the day it sailed from New Zealand, through the campaigns in Greece, Crete and Libya. The people of New Zealand were proud that the men of the division formed part of the force called “the ball of fire” by Mr Churchill. They had been the spearhead of many advances into Libya. Soldiers of the last war were rightly proud of the Second Division who with other forces had outdone the Anzacs. With the old soldiers who were at the railway station in force to welcome the men home feeling went deeper than cheering and flag waving. Under hardship and bomb blast men were born again. They had a different understanding of each other and a deep spirit of comradeship which still remained. When the Second Division left, old soldiers adopted the role of elder brothers and pledged themselves to do all they could to look after their interests. Men were coming back and old “Diggers” had honoured their pledge and had done many things, although there were many more things that had to' be done. It was the duty of all the returned men to join the R.S.A. and help to carry on the good work. To all those on furlough Mr Brass expressed the hope that they would have a happy holiday and luck in the future. Mr Robertson wished the men a happy furlough. He said the country was on a war footing which had never been contemplated. Mobilisation had been carried out under the threat of invasion, which was something new for New Zealand. Lieutenant Johnston expressed the men’s deep appreciation of the welcome extended to them and said they were glad of the few days’ respite which had enabled them to settle down a little. Although they appreciated the remarks passed regarding the division they had to remember that it was not the only division in the Middle East. Lieutenant Johnston referred to the fine work of the Fourth Indian Division, the 7th and the 11th Hussars and the Highlanders. He said the returned men would certain join the R.S.A. On behalf of the men and Sister Hubbard he thanked Mr Jordan and the Patriotic Committee for the splendid dinner. Mr Jordan said he and the Patriotic Committee and all who were in a position to do so would assist the men if they wanted anything done.