Soldiers Became "Swots"

New Zealand Listener, Volume 13, Issue 326, 21 September 1945, Page 17

Soldiers Became "Swots"

T would not be unreasonable for a civilian to think that soldiers coming home on troopships give up all their spare time to games; that the dartboard and "housie" fill up the long days at sea. A large number of men, after war, do consider games the best form of relaxation. But a very large number are to be seen in sheltered spots on the decks "swotting." At least that is what we were told by Captain E. F. T. Beer, who returned to New Zealand on the Strathaird, A journalist in civil life and well known in East Coast cricket — his parents live at Tolaga Bay-Captain Beer says that the number of men who give up all their spare time to trying to catch up on professional and industrial education is surprising. Their one desire is to make uf for the years when the Army was their whole existence and to become rehabilitated as quickly as possible.

No man could complain of lack of assistance. Much help is given by the N.Z.E.F. Educational Rehabilitation Service, which was mentioned in a recent issue of The Listener, and which provides the men with books, Without that service many of the books would be unprocurable on account of their cost. It takes just on a month for a ship to reach Wellington from Port Tewfik and that time is looked on as a part of the | transition from a soldier to a civilian.

"I hope the people of New Zealand, and particularly of Wellington, know how much their action in taking Australian prisoners-of-war into their homes, when their ship arrived on a recent Sunday, is appreciated," said Captain Beer. "The Australians have repaid that little debt. When we were in Australia on the way home it was impossible to walk along a street without somebody in a car pulling up and offering us a lift and an evening at home. There is a very warm feeling between the soldiers of the two countries," f