WELCOME ARMS

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 130, 28 November 1940, Page 18

WELCOME ARMS

AIRMEN IN CANADA

MEN FROM ANTIPODES

A FINE IMPRESSION

■"Representatives of four Royal Air Forces—those of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Great Britain —stood in the darkness outside Pier B-C last night, listening to words of welcome from four of British Columbia's leading citizens," stated the "Daily Province," Vancouver, on October 26. Lieutenant-Govern or E. W. Hamber, standing stiffly in front of the trimlyuniformed ranks of Australian and New Zealand airmen* was the first to greet the Anzacs, who, he said, were "a fine body of men from the sister Dominions who have come to augment further the Empire's air force in defending our freedom and our liberty." "You will' be received in Canada with open arms," he told them. "You will soon feel you are not strangers in a strange land, but brothers in blood, brothers in arms." The road would be hard, but there could be no doubt of ultimate victory. Germany would be defeated, disintegrated for all time. "Canada welcomes you and wishes you good luck and God-speed." There was no applause, only a murmur, of approval from the ranks of civilians grouped opposite the silent ranks of uniformed men. Mr. G. G. McGreer, M.P., spoke with the voice of Federal'authority. He felt proud to be associated in a second welcome to fighting men from Aus(tralia and New Zealand. "We want to make your training period in Canada a time of happy, pleasant, and profitable experience," he said. "You are embarked on one of civilisation's greatest adventures. By the time you have finished there will be flames all over Germany from wing to wing, from nose to tail. For every bomb that has been dropped on British soil there will be thousands of British Empire bombs blasting Hitler's pagan land. . The Boehe is squaking already." GOOD WILli AND FELLOWSHIP. Air Commodore Earl A. Godfrey, chief of the western air command, struck a practical note. He assured the visiting airmen of the utmost co-operation from Canada during their period of training in Canada. "I hope the spirit of good will and fellowship that prevailed between your personnel and ours during: the last war V will persist in this war," he said. The Mayor, Mr. Telford, extended a civic welcome. He believed the airmen would come to love Canada, and that Canadians would have the privilege of cheering the men on their "victorious homeward way." Mr. W. A. Rundle, manager of the transportation bureau, Vancouver Board of Trade, rounded off the ceremony of welcome by leading three hearty cheers for the Australians and New Zealanders. From the ranks came polite words of acknowledgment. Leading Aircraft man J. Goulding, of the New Zealand j Air Force, stepped briskly to the front, saluted, and in simple language conveyed thanks for the welcome given to the Anzacs. "We hope to be-worthy of the confidence you have shown in us," he said.""•■•. With Air Commodore Godfrey were 1 Wing Commander Hal Wilson, officer commanding Jericho Beach aerodrome, Group Captain L. M. Isitt^ liaison officer for the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Wing Commander S. C. Seaville, a native of New Zealand, now a member of the British Royal Air Force, and Flight Lieutenant James Lawson, assistant to the Australian liaison officer. Escorting officers were Flight Lieutenant'H. Hooper, Australian Air Force, and Flying Officers A. J. Grey and F. Calder, New Zealand Air Force. Representing the Board of Trade were Mr. H. R. Cottingham, president, Mr. F. M. Rutter, chairman of the transportation bureau, and Mr. Rundle. GIFT OF CIGARETTES. Members of the Vancouver Municipal Chapter of the 1.0. D.E. presented packages of cigarettes to the visiting airmen as they stepped ashore. Each packet contained a card inscribed with \ the insignia of the Order. j There were gay scenes on the station \ platform when the airmen boarded two special trains at 7.15, p.m. A Royal-Air Force band was playing "There'll Always be an England." Groups of j airmen joined hands as they sang the | chorus, and women admirers clustered about them. Canadians exchanged coins with Australians and New Zealanders and civilians were entrusted with hastilywritten postcards addressed to relatives "down under." There were cheers as the trainloads pulled out. Civilians sang "Wish Me Luck as You Wave Me Good-bye and "Roll Ou+. the Barrel." The airmen waved back until they were lost in the darkness. NEW MARCHING SONG. As the great liner with Australian and New Zealand airmen crowding her rails slipped into her berth, a Royal Canadian Air Force band struck up a ta-ra-ra boom of welcome. As though in reply, the 1940 Anzacs broke into the new marching song which is sweeping the Antipodes and taking the place of "Australia Will Be There," which the 1914 Anzacs sing. We are the boys from way down under. We're marching to victory, We're not afraid of Hitler's thunder, We'll put him where he should be. Itwas thrilling, this song which the second contingent of air trainees from the Antipodes roared out in splendid unison; and there was a catch in the throats of the crowd that stood on the dark dock when they heard the last line: "Sons' of the Anzacs are we." MAORIS GIVE A THRILL. j Aboard the. transport as she cut ! her way through the smooth waters. | I about 40 New Zealanders put on the! haka or Maori war dance in the afternoon for the benefit of Air Commodore Earl Godfrey, who travelled the last leg of the journey with them. [ Led by a Maori, husky Pine Takafrangi, whose great-uncle was an All Black Rugger star, the two score New Zealanders slapped their knees, stretched out their arms, shadow boxed to nerve-tingling guttural yells, j Then in a final shout of "Wiri Tera," j they all leapt into the air and stuck out their tongues. It wasn't funny. It was terrifying. "Mr. Victoria" was in the Australian group. He is Ross Barton, student pilot from Brisbane, and he won the title when he was chosen the best figure of manhood in the whole State of Victoria in a recent physical culture contest. His "mates" include Walter Geikie. Brisbane, welterweight boxing champion,, and huge Clive Lord and Ray . Thorold-Smith. of Sydney, who play Rugger for New South Wales. The New Zealanders, however, had more athletes per man. In their party were Eric C. Inder, Christen urch cyclist, who is 100-mile road racing champion of the country, Hugh Me-

Donald, Auckland, : four years sculling champion of the North Island, Richard Wanden, of Blenheim, who can do the 100 yards in lOsec fiat, and Ken Morris (the Tasmanian 'Terror), lightweight boxing, champion of New Zealand. ■

There are also a; couple of wrestlers: Richard Minnis, Wellington, the lightweight champion of New Zealand, and Bill Gordon, of Christchureh, the light-heavyweight champion of the South Island, Who boasts a 43£ in normal chest, with an expansion of: 7in.

Owen "One Shot" McMahon is also a New Zealander. He is the terror of the ducks round his home in Auckland and can put out, a candle at 50 paces with a .22 rifle. Needless to say, "One Shot" is going to be an airgunner. ; ■'■"•■

Geoff "The Kid" Gine is the youngest among the Anzacs. 'He hails from Blenheim, New Zealand.

Terry Clark, of Wellington, hoped he would have time to see his friend Jack Lane, 185 West Eighteenth Avenue, when the airmen landed. Jack stayed with him in New Zealand. ..

One little chore the airmen didn't mind doing' on the transport. That was lining up for pay parade.

They were all given 10 dollars on account by Flight Lieutenant J-. M. Grant, the command accountant attached to the Western Air Command Flight Lieutenant Grant explained that the Canadian Government paid the Australian and' New Zealand airmen as soon as they reached Canada.