RETURNED SOLDIERS

Evening Star, Issue 16627, 9 January 1918, Page 5

RETURNED SOLDIERS

DRAFT 129. . Moat of Iho men in draft 129—the- draft the tail end of which got to Port Chalmers yesterday morning—were, prior to embarkation, at the New Zealand discharge depot at Torquay, Devonshire. According to all accounts," that is one of the most beautiful health resorts in England. l?no soldier describes his stay At Torquay as a pleasant picnic. There were no very seriously wounded men on board, hut amongst 421 soldiers who embarked there were 22 consumptives, most , of whom were disembarked at Northern \ports. The trip was fairly good so far as weather -was concerned. No infectious disease of any kind occurred on board, and no aorions'illness was experienced. Several ports were touched at en route, and shore leave granted thereat. Amongst the men with military decorations—and thero were several—was Sergeant V. Davey, N.Z.P.A., who was awarded the D.C.M. at Loos'. A number of others have military medals. One of the passongers ■ was Lieutenant H. G. Stoddart, who is well known in the Dominion as a representative insurance man. Another passenger .- was Second Lieutenant D. Nelson, of the , main body. Ho was in the old Canterbury Infantry-before joining the Royal Flying Corps. He returns on furlough. Several .wives of returned soldiers accompanied their husbands on the ship a-s passengers.

DEAPT 134.

s The mail train arriving in Dunedin at 9.25 last night brought 69 men belonging to draft 151. Captain Dobson came down in charge of them. They were promptly despatched to their homes in motor cars provided, as usual, by the Patriotic Association, Mr Titchener attending to this duty. The men for the country loft by trains this morning. The total number of this draft for Otago and Southland was 89. When they got to Wellington from Auckland on Monday word was received that, as the ferry boat that night was full, the soldiers would have to wait till Tuesday night, and they were accordingly given leave. A little later on Monday an extra boat was put on for the run across Cook Strait that night. Major Fleming and Captain Dobson reassembled as many >of Iho men as they could find, and these were ;he 69 who reached Dunedin last night. The other 20, who were away with Wellington friends, and could not b3 found, rajssed the extra vessel, and did not leave Wellington till last night. Major Fleming stayed behind to bring them on. Thev will be here at 9.25 this evening if the Vain is up to time.