BACK FROM THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3174, 27 August 1917, Page 6

BACK FROM THE WAR

* —■ «, RETURNED SOLDIERS ARRIVE IN WELLINGTON A CHEERING WELCOME A contingent of over 300 <New Zealandcrs, "who had been through the b'omrne Jind other great actions, bore their honourable scars as evidence of their participation in the great war for world freedom. Amongst the latest contingent .wero men who have been for months in hospitals and convalescent homos in England, and_ who, being unfit for further activo service, have been sent home. In a number of instances lost limbs have been replaced with artificial substitutes of wonderful ingenuity. . Although {ho men arrived before daythe' Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke, C.M.G.), with his customary enthusiasm, was amongst them before G u.m., chatting with them and giving all and sundry a cheery wolcomo homo again. A little Eater, Mrs. Luko and a party of helpers were on the scene, with baskets of "comforts" which found a ready appreciation among tho men, who wore glad to be back again. All the cot cases who were for tho South Island were abo visited by the Mayor and Mrs. Luke, who, as apostles of cheer; threw a ray of gladness into the hearts of the brave fellows. Tho hope was expressed to one and all by tho Mayor that tho air of their native land .would aot as a beneficiont elixir, and ' restore them all soon to their wonted health and strength. It was pleasing to 6eo tho members of the Motor Transport turn out in such numbers as they did on Saturday mornins. Under Captain W. Pryor, they lent valuable assistance in transferring tho men fom Wairarapa, Wanganui, Mana- ■ watu, and Hawke's Bay to the railway station and in bringing the others up •• town.

The names of the cot oases for Wellington- aro as follow:—Sergent Penwarden, Q.M.R. Sergeant C. H. Howard,

Sergeant J. Fish, Privates C. H.'Brush A. S. Penliggen, T. Crossley, S. K Iteathchem, C. C. Russell, P. D. Amos T. Hastie; L. Lusty, L. A. Arnold, G Madams, Lance-Corporal T. W. J. Mills *I'. D. Oxley, C. Collingwood. A. Jf'Par lane, W. G. Beckett, P. L. Canliffe, H .Wall.

Tho Y.JI.C.A. -was officially represented among those meeting and welcoming the returning men, and tho National Committee's motor-car was placed at the disposal of any desiring to make use of it.

'The "S.A." at the Front. Appreciative references to tho niinistratioiifl of Salvation Army chaplains jvhom they had met at the front were made by numbers of men who returned Tjy tho hospital ship which arrived in Wellington on Saturday morning. Chaplain Walls, the tall chap "that does things," was specially mentioned, while Chaplain Bladin. was described by a wounded soldier as one of tho kindest men ho had ever met. When lie thought lie was "dono for" the chaplain comforted him and wrote letters for him to liis loved ones. The work of Chnplains Winton and Garner was also hij?hly commended, and Padre Greene was mentioned, as "still, going strong." Returning men are met on behalf of the Salvation Army by Brigadier Hoare, of tho National 'Headquarters, whose personal service as n chaplain at various camps has given him the opportunity of Eetting to know numbers of officers and men who have proceeded to the n out.