SAFE IN BRITAIN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 65, Issue 205, 12 June 1945, Page 3

SAFE IN BRITAIN

NEW ZEALAND WAR PRISONERS* NEARLY 500 FROM ITALY MANY MARRIAGES TAKES PLACE (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 11. Two ships have arrived from Italy, bringing nearly 500 liberated New Zealand Expeditionary Force prisoners of war to Britain. The men will go to a repatriation centre in Kent, which has now accounted for nearly 6300 men. There remain 78 soldiers unaccounted for, the majority of whom are expected to be located soon. Some, however, are believed to be dead, but their number is not thought to be large. Nearly 100 soldiers who were formerly prisoners of war have married since they arrived in England. So far, it is stated that well over 1200 New Zealanders have married in the United Kingdom during the war. More than 900 New Zealand Air Force personnel found brides here and about 380 soldiers. Many airmen have been stationed in the United Kingdom for some time, and it is stated that one out of every 11 who came to Britain during the war married here. The majority of the Army weddings occurred when the 2nd Echelon was in England in 1940, Now former prisoners are helping to increase the total.