ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 146, 21 June 1940, Page 8

ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND

SECOND ECHELON TROOPS

A ROUSING WELCOME

(TJ.P.A. and Official Wireless.)

(Received June 21, 10.15 a.m.)

LONDON, June 20. The War Office announced that large contingents of the A.I.F. and the N.Z.E.F., who left the Dominions in May. have disembarked at a British port and are proceeding to concentration areas. The troops are reported to be well and in high spirits. The glad cry, "The Anzacs are here," swept like wildfire round the port and cheers, shouts, and the British thumbs-up sign greeted the ships as they rounded a headland. A special correspondent of. the Australian Associated Press at a port in Britain states that a contingent of Australians commanded by Brigadier H. D. Wynter and of New Zealanders commanded by Brigadier J, Hargest arrived safely after a voyage round the Cape. The troops are in great heart and, were given a spontaneous and heartfelt welcome for their timely arrival in the most needy hours of the Allied cause. They are the first of the new "Anzacs" to land on British soil and are now encamped "somewhere in England" for final training.

As the armada of ships in which they crossed the world to the war steamed into port an official launch bearing messages from his Majesty, the Minister of War, Mr. Eden, and the Dominions Office slipped out and received a thunderous welcome from the thousands of Anzacs lining the rails and strung up the rigging to the roasthead. They were' all there: "Diggers" with the familiar slouch hats and the badge of the rising sun, New Zealahders in their own distinctive uniforms, Maoris smiling broadly, and here and there a splash of .the red and white of the Dominion nurses. It was good to see them. The cry, "The Anzacs are here," swept quickly round the port. THE KING'S MESSAGE. The following message from the King was given to the officers commanding the contingents on their arrival in Britain: — "A few months ago I sent some words of welcome to the first contingents of the Second Australian Imperial Force and the , New Zealand Expeditionary Force when they disembarked in the Middle East. It has fallen to your lot to come to Britain itself, and as you take your place beside us you find us in the forefront of the battle. To all I give a warm welcome, knowing the stern purpose tjiat brings you from your distant homes. I send you my best wishes. I look forwar' to visiting you soon." Mr. Geoffrey Shakespeare, addressing the troops on behalf of the Dominions Office, said: "I am proud to be the first member of the Government to welcome you in the name of all the people of Britain. There will be a thrill in every heart and every home in this country when it is learned that you have arrived safely. I am grateful to the Royal Navy for delivering its precious cargo from the ends of the earth safely home. You have come to our aid at a most momentous .time. Civilisation and our priceless heritage of freedom are at stake. France is sorely wounded, but the fight for -freedom will go on. Twenty-five years ago your fathers and some of you stood with us in the fields of France and clung to the heights of Anzac. Those names will be remembered wherever the story of brave deeds is told. Some months ago there came the welcome call, 'The Navy is here,' to the men imprisoned in a Nazi ship. So 'today, in freedom's hour of peril, the cry will go up, ,'The Australians and New Zealanders are here.' I wish you all godspeed." , "A BIG JOB." Brigadier N. S. Falla, on behalf of the High Commissioner for New Zealand, Mr. W. J. Jordan, said: "To all we extend a hearty welcome. The New Zealanders made,a name in the last war, and I am confident that you will make a still better name this time. Your job is a big one. We are all. confident in you. The situation is bad, but I know that the New Zealanders fight best when two tries have been scored against them. I send best wishes to all New Zealanders here." Brigadier R. Miles, Officer Commanding the New Zealand troops in Britain, speaking on behalf of MajorGeneral Freyberg, Commander-in-Chief of the New Zealand Forces, .said: "General Freyberg is still in Egypt He sends his greetings, and hopes soon to be here. You must get down to hard work, because the test may come soon. The situation will not daunt us. We must stick it out. The Hun fights the same way with his new tactics. It requires backbone, initiative, and resource to meet him. I know you have got that." Brigadier J. Hargest, in replying briefly, said: "We are glad to be here. We would rather be here than anywhere else in the world; We enter this fight 'boots and all.'" The War Secretary, Mr. Eden, sent a message "on behalf of all ranks of the Army in this country." In it Mr. Eden said: "You come at a timely hour. The enemy has thrown his full weight into the onslaught. The cause of free nations needs every measure of support that it can be given. Doubly welcome, then, is your presence at this moment. Doubly glad I know you are to be here. With Australia and New Zealand represented in the two theatres of the war, and with Canada and South Africa taking their full part, we can now present to the enemy a truly imperial front—a front which, as he has learned from past experience, has never been and never will be broken by him. However stern the struggle, we are confident that victory will finally crown our arms." GLAD TO REACH CAMP. The tired New Zealand troops were glad to reach their camp five miles away after marching in full kit and after a sixteen-hour train journey. In the camp, which is under cool pines, they found roast beef, boiled and baked potatoes, and beans waiting for them. A medical officer from Wanganui said: "All are in the best possible health and are extremely fit after 'the voyage. They have floor-boarding in the camp and better conditions than theB.E.F." An Aucklander, commenting on the voyage, said: "We had a grand trip. It was just like being home. The ship hardly rocked. It is grand to see England." The Maoris caused the greatest interest, their unfamiliar, swarthy faces ' attracting much attention. During the voyage Maori entertainers established a great reputation. It will be several days before all the New Zealanders arrive in camp. Their good reputation in the last war is still remembered and assures them a welcome from all sides. The New Zealanders' camp is not in the same place as the Australians', but j it is where the peaked hats of the Anti-1 tank Battery became familiar during thewinter. j

The troops are under canvas on a site which members of the B.E.F. recently occupied after the evacuation from Dunkirk. The Maoris arrived at 4, a.m., after which successive tr<o>op trains followed all day long, the roen marching to the camp to the str:ftins of the Royal Artillery and other brends and to cheers from women and. cl-jild-ren. Typical comment was "It' is swell of you to come over, son." S 6eelhelmeted British soldiers welcomed the New Zealanders with the thumtjis-up sign. A British sergeant-major said: "They are as good as our Guardsmen in the way they slope arms."