HOME AGAIN.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 29, 3 February 1916, Page 7

HOME AGAIN.

~* c SOLDIERS FROM ENGLAND, i i 20 3 MEN BY R.M.S. ROTORUA. j li c ARRIVAL THIS MORNING. S — a Publicly welcomed. ' 1 I \ \ Bringing with her seven officers and <| 19(1 non'rcommissioned officers nnd men f of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, j the R.M-.S. Rotorua arrived in port at ] Auckland early this morning from Lon- , don. via Capetown and Hohart. As in -j the case of the draft which arrived by c the R.M.S. Ruahinv a month ago, the men are all convalescents who have been un- j der treatment in English hospitals, the majority being almost completely recovered, though a proportion will be unfit « for further military service. After undergoing medical inspection, the mail steamer was berthed at the Queen's wharf, where arrangements had been made by the military authorities for dealing with the men and settling the large number of military formalities that have to lie gone through before nn invalided soldier can be allowed to go to his home. For this purpose, Surgeon-General Henderson. Director-General of Medical Services. Colonel Purdy. Director of Medical Services, and Colonel Hope i Lewis, N.Z.M.C, constituted a medical i board which dealt with every man of the draft in turn, and decided what treat- • merit in the form of leave or medical attention he should receive. A large space in Shed 14 was roped off, and the men were disembarked in order of districts, lined up, and passed before a long array of tables to have their papers put in order. This process took a long time in the case of each man (apparently something over half-an-houri. and in the meantime next-of-kin. who had been admitted to the shed and berth by special ticket, were allowed on board the vessel, > where many happy reunions took place. I Chairs had been provided in the shed, outside the rope, and parents and friends ; had an opportunity of talking to the men who were awaiting their turn at the tables. After being dealt with by the modi.-- : officers, each man was questioned by otinr officials with regard to pay. and finally a quartermaster dealt out articles of uniform to fill any deficiencies in the matter of kit. The whole proceeding, which was in charge of Major Norton Francis, Director of Base Records, Well-1 ington, occupied almost the whole of the morning, until the time came for the men to proceed to the Town Hall, for the official reception, in the cars provided by the Motor Service Corps. HOW THE MEN LOOK. As they came off the boat the returned men presented a fine appearance, in very marked contrast with that of many previous drafts of invalids. Almost without exception they wore a fresh and healthy complexion, the fruits of an English winter and a long sea voyage, and showed every sign of smartness in dress and bearing. To an observant onlooker it seemed as if the}' had felt it an honour to represent New Zealand in the Homeland, and had wished, during their stay, to appear in every way worthy representatives of the Dominion. A few, it might be noticed, walked with sticks, but there were neither crutches nor band-1 ages to be seen. A number—poor fellows 1 —bad plainly seen the end of their soldiering days, as an occasional sightless eye plainly showed, while a few more,' it was learned, possessed eyes that, while outwardly unaffected, were of no further use to their owners. Apparently it had been the practice to send all eye cases to England, where they have been receiving attention from the very greatest specialists. One man on the Rotorua was even attended by a surgeon attached to the Royal household, who, however, was unable to save the sight of the injured eye. THE VOYAGE. In general, the voyage out was a pleasant one, and the weather apparently uniformly fine. The Rotorua bad aboard 425 civilian passengers, with whom the soldiers were on the very best of terms. Christmas was celebrated in proper style, and every child on board received a present, in addition to bonbons and sweets. In the evening a Christmas concert was held, Major C. B. Brereton (commandant) presiding, at which the six Maori soldiers "did themselves proud" in a native love-song, and one of their number (Private Xgaki) executed a 6010 haka. On Boxing Day. and again on New Year's Day, sports were held, and included events suited to people of all ages and both sexes. The arrangements were in the hands of Captain Hardham, V.C., and a small committee, who collected over £12 as a prize fund. One feature of the trip was the publication of a bright little magazine bearing the rather lugubrious title "The Last Post." This was edited by Sergeant P. A. Hillary

(formerly editor of the "Times," Dargaville) and Sergeant A. R. W. Krebs, and

was printed at Capetown as a souvenir (price 6d., in silver—second-hand goods not accepted). The contents include a complete list of the officers and men of the draft, and of the civilian passengers, articles, verse, and a number of jokes and skits of local application. CAPETOWN'S WARM WELCOME.

The officers and men are enthusiastic in their praise of the people who entertained them at Capetown and Hobart. It was not known ashore that the Rotorua was calling at the South African port, but in a surprisingly short space of time large numbers of citizens rallied forth with motor-cars and presents. All hands were motored round, and a free entertainment was provided for the evening, while the officers were entertained at a

mayoral dinner. When the vessel left the soldiers were loaded with presents, such as cigarettes, tobacco, and fruit. "The people of South Africa are different from those in other parts of the Empire," explained Major Brereton, "because they have experienced fighting in their own country, and just know what it means. Their open-hearted ways | charmed us all." The people of Hobart, I too, are very hospitable. They met the boat with motor-cars and took the whole party lor a drive, also providing afternoon tea and fruit galore. The New Zealanders say they had never before tasted such strawberries and cream. In the evening all were guests at a theatre party, and bad the vessel remained another day there would have been many more invitations to accept. THE OFFICERS. Everyone on board was sorry to bear, towards the end of the voyage, that Captain YY. J. Hardham, who had made himself extremely popular with all hands, was again on the sick list. Captain j Hardham, who won the only V.C. awarded to a New Zealander in the South African War. had suffered a bullet wound through the lung, and an abscess forming, an operation was performed hy the ship's surgeon shortly before the Rotorua':- arrival at Hobart. It was then found necessary to put the patient ashore, and another operation was performed, but the latest advices were that the captain was progressing favour-

ably. Major C. B. Brereton, Canterbury M.R., was in command oi the draft, and the other returning officers are: Major C. Dick. Wellington Infantry; Lieut. C. C. Miles. Wellington Infantry; Lieut. D. Robertson, Canterbury Infantry; and Lieut. W. T. Palmer, Auckland M.R Amongst the first class passengers are Captain H. A. Cooper, sth Lancers, and Captain R. Neave, Essex Regiment, who have been lent to the New Zealand Government for staff duties. DESTINATIONS OF THE MEN. The draft comprises men of all units, a large proportion being members of the Main Force and early reinforcements. The infantry and mounted rilles are divided up as follows:—Auckland, 3S; Wellington, 47; Canterbury, 43; Otago, 46. Other units make up the balance as follows:—Engineers, 11; Field Artillery, 8; Maori Contingent, 6; Medical Corps, 1: Army Service Corps, 1. The Southern men will be sent away by the Main Trunk Express to-night. After the reception those who wished to see something of Auckland were taken for motor trips round the parks and suburbs by a number of citizens who lent cars for the purpose.

AT THE TOWN HALL.

WELCOME TO THE CITY. THE OFFICIAL WELCOME. A PLEASANT FUNCTION. At midday a reception to the men who arrived by" the Rotorua, and to their comrades in arms who came by the Willochra, was given in the Town Hall. Long before the soldiers arrived by motors the galleries of the Town Hal! were filled by the public. As on previous occasions, the ground floor was reserved for the soldiers and their relatives. When the men arrived at the Hall, some using crutches and some sticks, and some without limbs, they were very warmly applauded. In a number of cases where relatives bad missed one another in the rush at the ship's i side they were brought together for the I first time as the wounded men came in at the door, adn there were touching | scenes as mothers and sons were reunited after so long a separation. Atier luncheon was served by ladies of the Auckland Women's Patriotic League, men belonging to Southern towns were taken for a run round the city in motor cars, an outing which was very much appreciated by them. Among those present on the platform with his Worship the Mayor (Mr. J. H. Gunson were Messrs. A. E. Glover, M.P, A. Harris, M.P., C. H. Poole, M.P., J. S. Dickson, M.P., H. D. Heather (chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board), the Hons. Major B. Harris, M.L.C., W. Beehan, M.L.C., and Mr H. W. S. King (Rotorua Patriotic Committee). Major . Brereton and other officers who returned , by the Rotorua were also on the plat- ' form. Mr. Gunson apologised for the ■ absence of the Hon. James Allen, who i was detained in the South. i The Mayor, in extending a cordial wel- , come to officers and men. said that he i was glad to have the opportunity of - meeting and welcoming a further cont tingent of men. A comparatively short 1 time ago they had left our shores as ' volunteers to fight a common enemy on * foreign soil. They had fulfilled their • duties manfully, although they had been ' called upon to endure hardships of which ' we had no conception. (Applause.) He 5 wanted them to know that New Zealand " | appreciated the service they had rendi ered on her behalf and on behalf of the I Empire. A few short months ago name* . such as Anzac. and other places on Gallii: poli. were unknown, yet to-day they , j were associated with that irrlpcrishable t ] glory that had won the adriiration of ! ] the world for our men. While they api preciated the fact that the men were 3 willing to go, they appreciated still more - the fact that they had ae- . quitted themselves most bravely in that difficult country. (Loud applause.) He was glad to be ,- j able to tell the returned men that for 1 j every soldier who had fallen or been ine valided from the field, another had voli. unteercd and left our shores to take his r place. " But," said the Mayor, " I desire 1 to say that we intend to show our apprei ciation not only by words but by our - deeds in the care of the men who have i come home." In conclusion Mr. Gunson c expressed the hope that the men would make a speedy recovery, and that befort r | long they would be able to take theii 3 i places in the fighting force again. 'I Mr. A. Harris, M.P., said that it was "| always a pleasure to extend a wcleomi s :'to the men from Gallipoli, who thej i knew to be heroes every one. They wen 7 j proud of the men who had volunteered Ito leave the shores at tho call of Em t pire, and he was of the opinion thai they Irad every cause to feel gratifiei g | that 30,000 men had already gone. H< ~ I wished the men a speedy recovery o . health and strength. I Mr. A. E. Glover, M.P., said that h' r (recognised that it would be untimel; s i and cruel to inflict a long speech upo: a I the men who bad returned. He though f that the words of the writer who ha> 5,1 said: "Although Gallipoli might no s have achieved very much it hud mad a name for valour that would be luinde down from generation to generation. c He fittingly expressed his feelings. II -. hoped that they might look for II brighter era under peace very sooi a I (Applause.) At the conclusion th t I Mayor called for cheers for officers an lelmen, and for the nurses who had ter hided them. These were heartily gn'n.

Is — I VETERANS INTERVIEWED.

a • ft SXJBPBISED AT EVACUATION. s, rt "A MARVELLOUS PIECE OF WORK. t MAJOR BREREToFs STATEMENT. it Major C. B. Brereton. in whose char< rs | the men were placed before leaving En: ■t, Hand, informed a representative ol v ie '• Star " that the conduct of all had be< le excellent. They had had a most enjo, ■r- able voyage with two very bright dive a- s ions at Capetown and Hobart. A' cd Major hails from Motueka, and he wei he out with the Canterbury Battalion re the main body. After a fortnight n " fighting on Gallipoli, he was hit durn n - v the bi" attack on Krithia in May. period°of hospital treatment and cony leseence in ' England has. howey. lr brought him back to his former healt at and if the Major gets his desire, he w de in a month or two be going back to he Is on with the big game. In speaking nn the last occasion on which ho was •d- action, Major Brereton said that it w th the first time they had been in a Bterc let typed attack. Up till then the New Z( ess landers had been fighting at Anzac, a lCt l bad not been in open formation. > l, e being taken down to Cape Helles I •as Bother with a battalion of Australia: >nt they were sent forward under shell fi er- M Xirst the losses were not great, fc » re when they advanced from the trench ur- the Turks cut thera down like rabbi

In keeping with many other soldiers th who have returned, Major Brereton has di: a profound admiration for the Austra- ex lians as well as for the New Zealand lo soldiers. " The Australians excel in eh ginger and devil," be said, in describing hii their characteristics. " They are," be ac added, " the fiercest fighters on the face he of the earth; and I think that our men th do as much as the Australians." Major dc Brereton also spoke glowingly of the Ji famous 29th British Division, through la whose trenches his company advanced at w Krithia. When the men on the Rotorua N first heard of the withdrawal from An- pi zac, they were in the Atlantic. At first E. they were loth to believe the news, and ti absolutely refused to accept as correct w I the statement that the evacuation hud >" been effected without loss. Asked what bi his personal thoughts were at the time, at Major Brereton said he remarked that Si he would just as readily believe that the men had "walked off on the face of tlie water." However, the news was confirmed later on. and everybody declared that the operation was miraculous in its success. MAJOR DICK, OF WELLINGTON. Major C. Dick, of the Wellington Mounted Rifles, main body, has also returned. He was not wounded until fourteen weeks after the memorable landing. When the big attack came in the early part of August he was in the thick of the fighting, and sustained a wound in the right forearm which caused . partial paralysis of the right hand. " From the effects of this he is happily n recovering. As in the case of other a officers and men (without exception). Major Dick cannot say enough for the J manner in which they were received and - entertained by the people of England. w They seemed as if they could not do t enough for the colonials, ami they were A unstinted in their praise of what had \ been done at Gallipoli. '> TWO ENGLISH CAPTAINS. t Two Imperial officers, who have been detailed for instructional duty in New \ ' Zealand, also came out on the Rotorua. ' They are Captain 11. A. Cooper, of the ' Sth Lancers, and Captain R. Neave, of r the Essex Regiment. Both are arcom- 6 panied by their wives. Captain Cooper v saw service during the first six months I of the war in Flanders, and, by distin- I guishing himself in action, gained the -' Russian war cross. The strain of fight- i ing reduced the captain to a state of r impaired health, but he has recovered more than sufficiently to be equal to in- r structional service in New Zealand. The c same remark applies to Capt. Neave, who c is a machine-gun expert, and was in the c original landing at Cape Helles. Both j officers have come out in accordance with ( the arrangement entered into with the t ' War Office to send six or seven capable , ' officers who have seen active service to ■ ' aid in the preparation of New Zealand j ; contingents which are yet to go forward. '■ AN AUCKLAND LIEUTENANT. ] Lieutenant W. J. Palmer, of the Auckland Mounted Rifles, Second Reinforce- , ments, has returned minus his left hand ( ' —a sad enough souvenir of Gallipoli — i 1 and with three wounds in his left leg, ] from which he has recovered sufficiently ' to get about quite actively. Before join- '■ ing the Forces, Mr. Palmer was engaged ' in farming at Waingaro, Ngaruawahia. " On the night following his arrival at • Gallipoli the lieutenant and his men 1 went into the trenches at Hill 60, and i he was there for the next five days. The ' New Zcalanders then attacked, with the i object of taking the hill, and a bomb i inflicted the serious wounds, which i caused Lieutenant Palmer to go on to i England after being for two (lays on ■ Lemnos Island. He speaks highly of . the kindness which was shown by the i people of the Homeland, remarking that . both officers and men were constantly t being asked out to private homes for , entertainment. LIEUTENANT D. Mj ROBERTSON. 2 Lieutenant D. M. Robertson, of tho j Canterbury Infantry Battalion, Main - Body, was in the first landing, and found T himself at the head of a party of Ausi tralians about two miles inland. So b keen were they to go right through that r the officer had the greatest of difficulty - in persuading them to retire. They said .- that the Turks had killed their mates, s and they were going to get even. Then „ the lieutenant reminded them about the ;- wounded, and that was enough. It was r wonderful to see how readily they c changed from fierce fighters to tender n comrades. Both the Australians and d New Zealandcrs would stick to ouc ane other through thick and thin, which r quality was responsible for the profound admiration that had sprung up between s the men of the Southern Crocs. It had c been aptly said that both were brave y enough to do anything at all, but c whereas the Australians were reckless d the New Zealandcrs had more of Scotch i- canninese. "Take the Lone Pine attack,"' •t said Lieutenant Robertson. "Perhaps id n o other soldiers in the world would c have done what the Australians did >' there, but I believe that the New Zcalanders would also have done it." Lieu,e tenant Robertson was in action until 7 July 27, when he sustained concussion m from a bomb, leading to further compli--14 cations. After convalescing in England w ' he went before a medical board, and was 5t drafted to home service, being given the 3e option of service in England or New ■'}, Zealand. He chose the latter. le A WELLINGTON OFFICER. a Lieutenant C. C. Miles, a son of Mr. n " A. H. Mile 3, of the Murray-Roberts Cornel panv, Wellington, went out with the Fourth Reinforcements. He was in the fighting on Suez Canal, after which ho sustained septic poisoning, followed by complications, and was sent to England. He says that the officers' hospital at Annesley is a meat up-to-date institution. "I cannot say enough," Lieutenant ' Mile* remarked, "for the splendid way in which the people of England treated us." BRAVERY RECOGNISED. ge SERGEANT BARLOW'S AWARD. 'he HIMSELF DESCRIBES THE en INCIDENT. iy- """ " er- Sergeant H. Barlow, D,C.M., is the he I kind of man one likes to meet. Short •nt in stature and nuggety, he stands as of straight as a rush, and looks you fearof lessly in the eye. You can imagine him n<* going out from his trench single-handed A fn broad daylight to bomb a nest ol va- snipers in a trench 20 yards away, whe er, had been getting too many of his mates th This describes the act which won foi nil him the Distinguished Conduct Medal elp He had to crawl over broken ground of and was away for nearly an hour. Ir in speakin" to a Pressman about this in vas trepid soldier, Major Brereton remarkei co- that he has a great reputation as at ca- expert bomb-thrower. Some time befor. md the incident described above Sergean On Barlow became a man of repute by rea to- son of his daring in attacking the bomb ms, proof Turkish trenches. The latter haire. overhead coverings of timber, which th. but sergeant thought might possibly be re les, >noved. He made a special kind o its', bomb with •which he succeeded in settin;

the timber alight, and then with ordinary bombs prevented the Turks from extinguishing the flames. Sergeant Barlow is a modest man, and if given the choice, would rather not speak about his exploits. However, he described the act that gained him tho medal (which he has yet to receive), and acknowledged that he had previously .been recommended for an award. He was wounded on June 21, and subsequently taken to England, where he fraternised, among others, with Corporal Bassett, V.C., and otlier New Zealandcrs who had done distinguished work at Gallipoli. While in England Sergeant Barlow spent 6ome time with his people in Manchester, to which city he belongs. He haa a sister in the South Island of New Zealand, and before enlisting was working as a miner at Nelson. A very worthy colonist is Sergeant Barlow.