TROOPS RETURN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 9, 22 October 1940, Page 6

TROOPS RETURN

TWENTY-SIX AT WELLINGTON. THE FIRST TO BE INVALIDED. TANNED AND IN GOOD SPIRITS. (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, This Day. Tweqty-six members of the First Echelon who have been invalided back from Eigypt have arrived. Twenty-eight men left Egypt, but two missed the .steamer connection in Australia. Tropic tan and good spirits make it difficult to realise that the men are on the sick list. None has seen any active service, though most were for a time in the forward positions at Mersali Metruh and Sidi Barrini. Asked about conditions in Egypt, they spoke with feeling of the heat, sand and flies. One day before they left the temperature was 122 degrees in the shade. The journey back to New Zealand occupied about eight weeks, via India.

The only sign the men saw of the enemy was when Italian planes bombed Cairo. Apart from the heat, the sand and the flies, conditions in the base camp, they say, were excellent. The food was good and well-cooked and the arrangements for entertainments were very satisfactory indeed. Major-General Freyburg was described as very popular.

The men were met by an officer from Area Headquarters, Wellington, with instructions about their immediate movements. Each man received £'2 of pay before coming ashore. They were taken to the Area Headquarters and examined by a Medical Board. One goes into hospital and the remainder have been given leave to visit their homes. The Auckland members will leave this afternoon and the southerners to-night. Those for Hawke’s Bay and Taranaki leave to-morrow morn-

The party includes tlireo men who are now returned soldiers twico ovet — Privates J. Hunt, T. Pitts and R. Martin, who saw service in the last war. Hunt was with the naval patrol and this time he is with the Machine Gun Battalion. Pitts and Martin were in the infantry on both occasions. List of the Men. The complete list of the men back from Egypt, including the two who missed the connection en route, is:—Privates R. W. Alexander (Timaru), J. Barnes ('Christchurch), B. W. Bennett (Christchurch), C. G. Burn (Auckland), J. Cowie (Cromwell), E. W. Dawson (Christchurch), Driver R. V. Denson (Christchurch), Privates G. "C. Field (Christchurch), C. .F. Fischer (Dannevirke), R. T. Gutsoll (Dunedin), J. M. Hall (Christchurch), Gunner G. J. Hammond (Christchurch), Privates J. H. Hawkins (N.S.W., sent to Wellington Hospital suffering from appendicitis), Privates J. Hunt (Christchurch), J. Lee (Westport), Sapper' T. Lynch (Auckland), Private R. H. Alartin (Greymouth), Signaller R. C. Milligan (Otahuhu, missed the boat en route), Privates El. V. (Morrish (Whangarei), A. Nielsen (Onehunga), T. J. E. Pitts (Dunedin), W. L, J. Pleasants (Palmerston North), Sapper B. Polkinghoflie (Auckland, missed the boat en route), Sapper ,1. F. Rowlands (Auckland), Corporal L. Turner (Auckland, in charge of the party). Signaller K. von Lubbe (Auckland), Lance-Cor-poral J. H. Williams (Auckland), Private J. S. Yarnton (Auckland),