HAPPY INTERLUDE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 121, 24 May 1941, Page 7

HAPPY INTERLUDE

FOR N.Z. AIR PILOTS " NOVA SCOTIA BILLETS A large contingent of airmei from this country sailed away a the end of February, and 56 of then (comprising 14 pilot officers and 41 ■ergeant pilots) were later trans Ported across Canada for embarkatioi from the eastern seaboard to Eng , land. They were quartered at ; '.< Nova Scotia depot, the welconv officer of which, Pilot Officer Lincoli Eraser, made arrangements for then w be billeted for a whole week ty the folk of New Glasgow, a towi . a population of 10,000. ♦ .-, „ Tlle Nova Scotians took the Nev Zealanders so closely to their heart: .that there was a rush to accommc them. The local newspape stated that when the airmen eventu a lly left by train on their return t< ;: the depot the C.N.R. platform wa I crowded as it had not been sine i £Ung George and Queen Elizabetl I P?s?ed through. And the Parksid ,i Military Training Centre Bam J ffijded to the gaiety of the scene «'vf re - were tear-dimmed eyes, toe « f ™ssing, of course," was the captioi w> one of the paragraphs in th report of the farewell by th News." '•'''■' l.A nother titling read: "New Ze£ landers promise to return home vi t, New Glasgow." Homes Thrown Open v fV ,£ n taking the public appeal fo .: i™ townspeople to throw thei $&&&&* . °P en to our airmen Mi -~ *SS ha JC d Cholmondley, manager c % -"t2£a National War Services' Clut raaae these observations:— . ■..»%/'£heir coming to Pictou Count; Nova Scotia from New Zealan -'■"^j-'X, ■* be a sort of return visit fror ! " : vJLi arnous emigration led by B.e^ ..,gorman MacLeod from here to Cap »hi° n and thence to New Zealahc wnere they settled and became leac

ing citizens of the Dominion. Some of them may be able to trace their ancestry back here."

In token of gratitude for th< remarkable hospitality accorded t< the airmen Pilot Officer A. F. Mc Gruer sent to the Town Council ; silver shield, mounted on an base, bearing the inscription: T< the citizens of New Glasgow, pre sented by the New Zealanders U appreciation of a happy week, Marcl 26 to April 1, 1941." When the shield surmounted b;j the wings insignia of the Royal Nev Zealand AVr Force arrived at th< home of Mayor Bannerman he linme diately called a special meeting o the council for the following day t( officially accept the gift. Gift Appreciated Mr. Bannerman issued this state ment for publication after council [ors had certified their appreciatior of the spirit which prompted th< iction of the visitors, and of th< sentiments expressed in the wording an the shield and in the letter whicl accompanied it: — "I feel very proud to accept this fine gift from the New Zealand boys We were only too happy to extern hospitality to them and found everj one of them a gentleman. Our home! were opened to them because w< felt they deserved the best we coul( offer Naturally we expected noth ine in return other than the com Danv of the boys which we enjoyed the arrival of this shield, commj as a complete surprise, makes u: feel very happy in that it. indicate: we were successful in giving th. airmen of the Empire a fine time 1 am sure the citizens will feel abou it as I do." The council decided the shieti should be hung in the council rc-on Ind the picture of past councillor and Mayors will be rearranged t< mike room for it directly back o the Mayor's seat, the most promir ent spot in the chambers. The shield will be on exhibitioi in office window for i week before going to the counci chambers. The names of the New. Zealani party were:— Pilot Officers.—S. W. B. Beadie, E Brook, D. S. N. Constance, J. F Craig, M. A. Ensor, E. 1,. Haigh ton T. W. M. Leckie, D. Miller, F. H. McCracken, A. F. McGruer .(n charge), F. Reece, S. R. O. Rich tnond, J. M. Waddell. . _..

Sergeant Pilots.-r-C. W. Andrews, C. B. Barton, G. F. Beaver, R. C. S. IBeck, A. J. Black, D. J. Bradley, 0. F. Breckon, J. R. Cairns, K. A. Cometti, C. G. A. Dale. W. S. Dashwood, G. Emerson, J. P. Farrow, W. J. Fulton, G. M. Goldfinch, A. R. Harris, L. G. Harrison, C. H. Howard, J. K. Ibbetson, M. R. B. Ingram. L. H. Irvine, J. E. Jones, W. L. Knowles, W. M. Krebs, W. C. F. Leicester. W. G. Mart, A. G. Metcalf, W. L. Miller, A. G. Morgan, J. O. McCabe, .1. G. E. McPhaii, C. J.; Neighbour, C. F. O. O'Connell, A. I. Paget, G. F. Reed, O. R. Smart, F. A. Sparks, V. E. Sutherland, L. A.j Verrall, J. G. Vibei-t, J. M. Warnock, D. R. White, D. J. Williams.