FLOCK HOUSE BOYS

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23797, 17 November 1942, Page 2

FLOCK HOUSE BOYS

SPLENDID WAR SERVICE Of the original 635 sons of overseas seamen trained at Flock House in the Rangitikei district, 550 are now in the fighting services. This information was received at a meeting of the trustees of the New Zealand Sheepowners’ Acknowledgement of Debt to British Seamen Fund, which was held in Wellington last week. Many of these young men, it was reported, had left farms in New Zealand, which were being looked after, and the closest possible touch was being kept with them and their families. At least 10 had been killed in action, 24 were prisoners of war, nine were missing, 24 were wounded, and 10 had been invalided home. One had been mentioned in dispatches for gallantry in the Balkans, and had subsequently received the Military Cross for gallantry in Libya. Two are commissioned officers in the Fleet Air Arm, and another is serving with the Royal Air Force. Consideration was given to the problems involved in reinstating all young men into civilian occupation on their return from active service, and the closest co-operation with the National Rehabilitation Council was approved. Annual grants were renewed to the Missions to Seamen at the main ports to give relief to individual distressed seamen who have served in deep-sea ships during the Great War or the present war. Consideration was given to the reestablishment of a farm training centre for sons of seamen or airmen who had been killed or incapacitated, and the steps already taken towards this end were reviewed. It was decided to approve the policy and to proceed with the proposals immediately circumstances permitted.