CHILDREN FROM HIROSHIMA

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26868, 22 October 1952, Page 11

CHILDREN FROM HIROSHIMA

K Force Base Camp Gives A Party

(N.Z. Army Information Service) KURE, October 19. Nearly 100 children from Hiroshima took over the New Zealand Base Camp at Hiro on Saturday. They came from the Hiroshima orphanage, which was annihilated by the first atom bomb and is now being reconstructed under the devoted leadership of Mr Kogi Kitamura. whose father was its founder.

The orphanage first came to the notice of New Zealand officers and men at Hiro when about a fortnight ago volunteer Japanese workers asked permission to set up stalls in the camp area in a drive to obtain funds. Since then the New Zealanders have been contributing to the work through collection boxes and raffles.

Saturday’s party was held with a view t G bringing the camp into personal touch with the children, and it is hard to say who enjoyed it most, the hosts or the children. The language problem was overcome by the presence of 30 girls and three teachers from the Hiro High School, and by officials from the orphanage, including Mr Kitamura. Bouquets were presented to the officer commanding the camp, Major E. W. Hunt (Auckland), by a little girl and a Boy Scout, both from the orphanage. The major was then faced with the task of making a speech of thanks on the spur of the moment, for the benefit of a Japanese broadcasting unit. The speech was made in English and interpreted by one of the guests.

Highlights of the day were an acrobatic display by high school girls, a Maori concert under the direction of Gunner N. T. Manapoto, of Tokaanu, a “train ride” round the camp in three trailers drawn by a jeep, the non-stop antics of three “clowns” better known to K Force as the camp regimental-' sergeant-major, W. 0.11 R. B. Gibbons (Christchurch), and Drivers T. D. Henry (Pareora) and S. E. Gibbs (Port Chalmers). An outdoor lunch was prepared and served by the camp’s Japanese staff, who gave up their halfholiday. The New Zealanders also gave up their half-day off to act as hosts. The orphanage at present supports 115 children.