CAPTAIN J. H. HALL SAFE

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24545, 19 April 1945, Page 4

CAPTAIN J. H. HALL SAFE

ARRIVAL IN BRITAIN The safe arrival in England of Cap* tain J, H, Hall, first official war cor* respondent with the 2nd N.Z.E.F., who was captured in Greece,-was reported in messages privately received In Christchurch yesterday. The reports were that Captain Hall - was in iUy health, and that his return to New Zealand will not take place for some months, The camp In which he was a prisoner was over-run by Americans, and on his release Captain Hall made a long march back to safety, / Captain Hall's father. Mr Andrew Hall, of Edendale, Southland, was in Christchurch yesterday when the news was received. Captain Hall’s wife add two children live m Wellington. Captain Hall is a well-known journalist. Now 47 years of age, he joined the “Southland Times” in 1916, and became chief reporter. He came to Christchurch in 1918 to join the “Sun,” which he represented in the Parliamentary Press Gallery until he resigned in 1821 to become a student at the University of Otago. He was a good athlete, representing Southland at Rugby and winning field events in Canterbury. He won the New Zealand University blue in athletics. Returning to Christchurch in 1924, he was cable sub-editor of "The Press,” and he was then appointed editor of the “Hawera Star," In 1927, he was appointed editor of the “Sun," Christchurch, and six years later he resigned to become editor of the “Dominion," Wellington, a position which he held until 1937. Joining the Government service, he was appointed commissioner of the New Zealand Pavilion at the Glasgow Exhibition, and he was a collaborator at the .League of Nations. Before becoming Deputy-Director of Publicity in New Zealand at the outbreak of the war, Captsin Hall was publicity officer for the Railways Department and editor of the “Railways Magazine." He left New Zealand with the 2nd Echelon as the first official war correspondent, staying in England for a time before the echelon was transferred to the Middle East. Already a Master of Arts of the University of New Zealand, Captain Hall studied law while ho was in the German prison camp. He passed the examinations as a bachelor of laws, and had completed two sections of the examinations for the degree of master.

NEW ZEALANDERS FREED FRO& STALAG 357

LONDON. April 17. Among the Allied war prisoners liberated yesterday from Stalags 118 end 357, near Fallingbostel, north of Hanover, were 104 New Zealanders and 100 Australians, all from Stalag 357. The Dominions’ totals from Stalag 118 are not yet completed.

Mrs M. S. Hobbs has received cabled advice that her husband, Corporal John H. Hobbs, son of Mr and Mrs Hugh Hobbs, Alkman’s road, ha. arrived safely in the United Kingdom, after having been a prisoner of war for 'early lour years. Corporal E. D. Mulholland. who was a prisoner of war in Germany for four years, has arrived in the United Kingdom, according to advice received by his parents. Mr and Mrs F. B. Mulholland. Papanul Mrs A. Hay-Mackenzie (Westport) has received a cable from hetuson. Sergeant R. Hay-Mackenzie, stating that he is now safe and well in the United Kingdom. Sergeant Hay-Mackenzie. who had been a prisoner of war in Germany, at Stalag VHIA for three years, was, before going overseas, on the staff of the Bank of New Zealand jin Christchurch. . j