PADRE’S WORK ON VELLA LAVELLA

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24150, 8 January 1944, Page 7

PADRE’S WORK ON VELLA LAVELLA

FORMER NORTH OTAGO MINISTER From Oui Own Keportei OAMARU, January 6; High praise for the work of a former North Otago minister, now a chaplain attached to a New Zealand battalion which was in action against the Japanese at Vella Lavella, is contained in a letter received in Oamaru from Private A. Sefton, who is serving with the battalion concerned. The chaplain is the Rev. George Falloon, formerly Presbyterian minister at Kurow, and a member of a well-known family. Private Sefton says that New Zealand troops in the forward areas on Vella Lavella, after days facing the enemy, returned to forward headquarters for a rest and were greatly revived by hot tea provided by the padre. He and his batman had carried primus stoves and fuel for many miles to the most forward position possible, and with these burners working, continuously throughout daylight hours, they served hot drinks to all the wounded, distressed, and fatigued men who passed through. The padre, in fact, was by far the hardest worked man in'the battalion, and although only a newcomer, his actions won for him the respect and thanks of every man in the unit. . .

“To be on hand to give a Christian burial to the fallen, sometimes in the rear and sometimes forward, is a big task,” continues Private Sefton, “and to comfort the wounded and distressed adds to it; but the work entailed in the serving of warm drinks makes it herculean. This work was effectively carried out, and the padre still had a cheery word to raise the spirits of all the men with whom he came into contact. That the men appreciated the padre’s services has since been demonstrated by the record attendances at services conducted by the padre.”