1500 HOME AGAIN

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 57, 5 September 1945, Page 8

1500 HOME AGAIN

RAPTUROUS WELCOME

TRANSPORT ARRANGEMENTS

Nearly 1500 New Zealanders, formerly prisoners of war, reached Wellington from England today aboard the Orion, leaving approximately only 600 Dominion soldiers and airmen yet to be repatriated from the United Kingdom reception centres where they have stayed since their release from Germany. The ship was met in the harbour by an official party which included the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser), and disembarkation proceeded speedily so that all the men will be on the w.Ty to their homes by this evening. There were scenes of rapturous, welcome in the wharf sheds through which the men passed as they disembarked. Each was announced over a public address system as he passed into the section of the shed where next-of-kin were waiting, and there were several "bottle-necks" in the traffic as . kitbag-laden soldiers were almost knocked off their feet by the welcoming rush of wives, parents, ! children, and friends. Several of those waiting to welcome their men had large banners of greeting, and formed a triumphant procession out of the shed with them. The Trentham Military Band was on the wharf and played welcoming music. , Men for Gisborne and Hawke s Bay, 88 in number, were first off the ship and left by the Gisborne express at 9.40; they were followed by 25 Wairarapa men who went home by road transport and 144 Wellingtonians who were taken home with their next-of-