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Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 182, 30 April 1941, Page 8

HOME AGAIN

More Than 200 Sick And Wounded LIST OF MEN WHO HAVE RETURNED

More than 200 sick and wounded from England and the Middle East have arrived in Wellington by tne hospital ship Somersetshire. Most of them not having fought in battle they feel that by the misfortune of ill-health or injury, they have been prevented from taking their part in the job they set out from New Zealand to do. The main task of the authorities when the ship arrived was to get the men attended to in the minimum of time and sent safely on the journey to their homes. Eighty-four were fiom England and the rest from the Middle East. For those who came from Britain it was a long trip; more than 100 days. Only a few'have been wounded; the great majority succumbed to sickness and general health complaints on service which made it medically inadvisable for them to carry on. A few single men. who would otherwi.se have been invalided home prefer'red to stay in England and do their bit in industry or wherever they could best make themselves useful, iney can get free passages back up to six months after the war. Official Visits.

The Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, and the Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones, were the first visitors to the Somersetshire, and spent two hours informally chatting with all ranks. _ Other visitors were Mr. i - »• Stephens, Internal Affairs IJepartment. and Mr. Vincent Ward, M.L.C., an'd Mr. J. W. Andrews representing the Provincial Patriotic Council, lhe mayor of Wellington, Mr. Hislop, and the town clerk, Mr, E. P. Norman, and the chairman of the Wellington Harbour Board, Mr. W. L. Fitzherbert and the secretary, Mr. F. Read, paid ofinial visits. Representatives of the R.S.A., Red Cross, and Order of St. John, National Patriotic Fund Board, and other organizations, went aboard the ship, and distributed comforts to the men. The Red Cross also provided transport.

Thirty-seven Men For Hospital. Thirty-seven of the men have been admitted to the Wellington Public Hospital as in-patients. The remainder went to their homes by the first steamer or rail transport available, jnen living in Wellington were driven to their homes. All the men were off the ship by 3.30 p.m. on the day of arrival. ' The organisation for getting the men to their relatives and homes as soon as possible worked splen'didly, everyone concerned making a maximum effort. Meals were of no. account. nor was a breathing spell, compared with the objective of dealing with the returning men in the quickest time. They were medically boarded, dentally examined, outfitted, and given warm underclothing, where needed; particulars of pensions claims were taken; they were interviewed by State Placement officers with a view to facilitating employment after discharge, seen by Social Security officials in respect of other 'benefits, given new levy books, paid, given travelling warrants to their homes, meal tickets to use en route, interviewed by the R.S.A. regarding membership, and generally assisted in every way possible. Captain D. Cossgrove, officer in charge of Sick and Wounded at Army Headquarters, Lieut. Bryau, officer for Sick and Wounded in the Central Military District, and the officers who hold corresponding positions at Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin, were in attendance throughout to ensure that the men from the various districts were expeditiously dispatched home and provided for.

The next-of-kin '.of each returning soldier was advised of arrival by urgent telegram, having had notification that the, soldier with whom they were concerned was on bis way home to New Zealand. The medical officer commanding; the Somersetshire is Lieut.-Colonel J. WTownsend, with R.A.M.C. medical officers, Matron E. Townsend, 13 nursing sisters and a full complement of R.AIM.C. orderlies. The Somersetshire is well distinguished as a hospital ship. There is a large red cross on the top deck which is illuminated at night as well as green lights on the sides, which are also lit up. Entertaining Personnel. Special arrangements are being made to entertain the ship’s personnel to enable them tn see as much as possible of New Zealand’s scenic attractions during their stay. The Somersetshire is a' Bibby Line ship which was used for troop transport to various tropical garrisons before Hie war. She was completely refitted for hospital purposes. Site is a twin-screw steamer of 9716 tons, with: a length of 450 feet. She was launched in 1921. The accommodation for the patients is good, quite up to the standard of a civilian hospital. The names of the party of returning sick and wounded. Which included several nurses, are given below. All are privates except where otherwise stated:

Major J. G. C. Leach. Wanganui; Captain C. F. Thomas. Whakalane: Lieutenant A. H. L. Hardsell, Gore; Lieutenant M. V. Wilson, Whahgarei; Lieutenant W. H. Carter, Lieutenant J. K. F. Watson, Auckland; Second Lieutenant J. H. Corlett. Hamilton; Second Lieutenant It. H. Thomson, Auckland: Sister TL M. Scott, Havelock North: Staff Nurse V. Cartwright, Napier. Sergeant F. Adamson. Wellington.: B. Aiding, Oamaru; Lance-Corporal R. J. Alexander. Wellington; Sapper J. Anderson, Wellington; Sapper F. E. Anderson, Wellington; Gunner It. M. Andrews. Palmerston North; H. R. Armstrong. Dunedin: C. A. Arthur, Invercargill; J. E. Asli. Walroa; Driver L. M. Barr, Auckland: IL E. Bassenden, Wellington; W. A. Beach, Napier; 3. E. Beacham, Onehunga. I. .1. Bell. Auckland; Lance-Corporal P. A. Bellve. Auckland: Slipper T. G. Blddulph, Inangahua Junction; C. V. Blomfield, Waitoa, Thames Line; C. T. Blucher, Walhopo. It. K. Bones, Hamilton; Gunner F. 11. S. Booth, Wellington: Signalman F. I-l. K. Braddock, Nelson: S. J. L. Bramble. Paeroa; Gunner J. Brennan. Tlmaru: C. S. Brown. Te Rapa; R- F. Buckingham, Auckland: C. E. Burke, Tauranga • J. G. Buxton. Tlmaru: T. F. S. Callau. Wellington: Corporal J. H. Campbell. Hornby; Sapper .1. 11. Campbell. Napier; C. Capon, Auckland: Corporal R. N. .Carpenter, Auckland: Sapper J. J. Channing, Ngaruawhlila: IL C. Cloustou. Wellington: D. .McK. Coombridge. Ootoroliangn: Sapper W. D. Coote, Christchurch; Sapper M. J. Corkery. Hastings: C. .1. Cottier. New Plymouth; Corporal R. T. Craig. Taupirl: Lieutenant R. N. Crampton, Wellington; Sergeant C. N. Crawford. Dunedin; Regimental Sergeant-Major F. Crompton, Nelson: Driver J. R. Cross, Auckland; LanceCorporal D. J. Curtis. Christchurch; G. M. Dale. Onehunga: T. E. Davies. Paekakarlki. .

Company Sergeant-Major A. G. M. Dent, Waipawa; Lance-Corporal G. Diamond, Chrluteliurch; Lance-Corporal J. M. Dive, Wellington: Lance-Sergeant J. Dobson, New Plymouth; Driver D. P. Donald, Maitland: Lance-Corporal A. I l '. Dougherty. Dunedin; Signalman T. D. Evans, Wellington: Gunner E. Faithful, Kavensbourne; Driver T. Fitzsimmons. Christchurch; Sapper It. J. Forman, Napier; Corporal .1. P. Foster, Wellington; A. .1. 11. Fowler. Marton: S. R. Frewin, Wellington; Driver T. I’. Frost, Hamilton; R.

J. Gardiner, Frankton Junction; Trooper F. W. Garrett, Kaikoura; Lauee-Sergeant D. Glover, Nelson.; Gunner J. H. Goldsworthy, Wellington: Sapper J. M. Gough, Kamo; Sapper J. J. L. Gould, Auckland; ,T. F. Gregg, Stratford; Driver L. L. Gross, Onehunga; E. P. Hallmond, Dargavllle; H. It. Hammond; Auckland; G. H. Hannah, Auckland; Sapper A. 11. Harper, Dunedin; G. R. Hart, Dunedin; Corporal K. M. Hay, Otahului"; Sergeant W. D. Haydou, -Wellington. Sergeant R. G. Hayward, Wellington; Lance-Sergeant R. N. Heffier, Gisborne; W. M. IHenderson, Mangapehi; ' it. F. Hewat, Wellington; Gunner E. J..Hodson, Nelson; J. D. Hoggard, Wellington;' P. A. E. Holdaway, Duuedin; H. E. Holtliam, Hunterville; quarterma'ster-Sergeaut C. K. C. Hopkins, Hastings; F. S. Hubbard, Napier; J. Hudson, Auckland; J. D. Hussey, Mosgiel; Driver E. I. Huston, Christchurch; G. R. Irving, Wanganui; Corporal R. C. Jacksoil, Christchurch; A. J, James, Christchurch; P. G. James, Patea; Sapper E. Johnson, Otaliuhu; Driver F, Johnson, Wanganui; C. F. Johnson, Wanganui; G., T. Jones, Gisborne; P. M. Joss, Dunedin; S. J. Kendrick, New Plymouth; Driver J. -M. Kennedy, Wellington'; Bombardier I. W. Kirkness. Invercargill; Driver It. Larkin, Tekopuru; E. ueigh; LanceCorporal V. A. Lester, Tlmaru: LanceCorporal H. A. Lewis, Wliangarei; Gunner J. N. Little, Wellington; L. A. Linklater, Kalapol; Guuuer 11. E. Lloyd, Onehunga; li. G. Loveridge, New Plymouth. B. Luekock, Wellington; T; McConnell, New Plymouth; C. i.F. MacDonald, Christchurch; Sergeant G. McDougall; C. McDowell; G. D. MeFadgen, Wellington; Corporal R. G. MacGregor, Christchurch: Guuuer E. W. L. MacGregor, Walpawa; Lance-Corporal L. R. Mackay, Ohai; )V. R. Mackav, Opuuake; D. L. MacLeod, Ilawera; K. A. Mclntosh, Ruatapu; T. J. Major, Wellington; Driver F. J. Marsh, Christchurch; W. F. Martin, Auckland;. Gunner F. Martin* Mastertoil; .Driver H. W. Martin. Christchurch; W. G. Matthews, Christchurch'; Sergeant W. Maxwell, liuutoria; Sergeant 11. Metcalfe, Orakel; D. It. Miller, - Wellington; A. J. D. Mitchell, Hamilton; R. M. Moir, Flaxton; Lance-Sergeant G. K. Maloney, Hawera; Driver J. C. Mooney, Alexandra; W. J. Moore, Christchurch; Lance-Corporal P. J. Morris. Otape; Corporal J. L. Morris, Wellington; S. Morrison, Wellington; Gunner J. Murphy, Te Puke; Sergeant E. J. Nation. Wellington; LanceCorporal H. E. Norman, Tuatapere; B. P. Oakes, Hawera; J. G. Olsen, Hastings; J. E. Penrose, Christchurch; Corporal P. T. N. Pitama, Tuahiwi. Sergeant J. S. Porteops, Wanganui; M. •E.- Prendergast, Ikamatua: Sapper F. A. Ramsay, Ashburton; Lance-Corporal J. V. J. Regan, Christchurch: G. H. Reeve. Dunedin; Lauee-Corporul W. K. Rewlia-Rewha, Torere; Gunner C. S.-Riley. Christchurch; Sapper A. S. Ritchie, Takaka; F. Robertson. Auckland: L. 1.. Roebuck, Duuedin: Sapper H. J. Rodgers, Wellington; J. M. Itolall. Auckland: Driver W. G. Howlands, Christchurch; Gunner AV. R. Russell, Christchurch; Gunner W. H. Roxburgh, Howtck; I'. R. Ryan. N'gakawau; C. H. P. Ryan, Walroa; Guuuer 11. W Ryder, Auckland: Gunner D. N. Sliutte. Christchurch; F. N. G. Sibley, Christchurch; D. C. Slocombe, iilutid: G. A. Smith. Auckland; G. G. T. Smith, Ashburton: J. A. Smith, Southland; Signalman A. J. Suelgrove, Wellington; ,L. 11. Staudcn, Auckland: C. L. Sutton, Chrlstcliureh; ‘P. Tahatu, Hastings; Gunner A. D. Taylor, Otorohanga; Gunner P. Taylor, Bluff; R, A. Tp Wliero, Hastings: A. R. Thoiniis, Wliangarei; W. J. Thomas, Christchurch; Sapper H. Thorp, Opuuake: J. C Timmins, Auckland: Gunner li. B. Tollemache, Te Awa'mutu: Gunner W. G.-Tooman, Auckland. i jr

11. L. Townsend, Wellington: ' E. H. Trask, Te Arolia; Sapper C. S. Triehon, Auckland: Sapper O. D. Walesby, Chrlstcliureh; A. C. Wastuey, Nelson: LanceCorporal F. J. Wurdrone. Auckland: It. J. Welnoski. Wellington; E. J. Whitson; Aucklanu: Bombardier E. S. Wlig, Napier; Bombardier J. Wilkins. Blenheim: Corporal W. E. Wilson. Dargavllle; N F. S. Wood. Taranaki; T. W. S. Loach, A. MeLauehlln; J. C. R. Smith; Tapanui: Sergeant C. K. Rosser. C. J. MeFerran, Chrlsteliureli: W. A. Robinson: SergeantMajor Hardley: Nurse E. J. Jarman, Auckland: Driver A. F. Gogle. Auckland: S. Lawson. Dunedin.

In a number of eases there are no home addresses.