DUNEDIN'S QUOTA

Evening Star, Issue 24916, 14 July 1943, Page 2

DUNEDIN'S QUOTA

THE WARMEST WELCOME 12,000 AT STATION ENVIRONS " Don't they look well," was the general comment of the assembled public when some 450 Otago men of the Ist, 2nd, and 3rd echelons of the 2nd N.Z.E.F. arrived back on furlough at noon to-day. And with very few exceptions, they did look well. One might have expected these boys to look tired—tired, temporarily, at any rate, of the desert and of war; tired because of the long voyage out, and, most of all, tired of the obstacles and delays, caused largely by Mother Nature, who was In a winter mood, which prolonged the last part of the journey home and created a delay of at least five hours in the time of reaching their destination.

But, in reality, the boys, were bright, cheerful; happy at reaching home anyway, and when they filed out of the station, carrying their kits, and found the waiting relatives and friends, there were many joyful meetings. THE WEATHER DELAY.

Delayed by heavy weather, the ferry steamer conveying the South Island portion of the returning meii did not arrive outside the mole at Lyttelton until 11.30 p.m., after a trip occupying 15 hours. Further delay, occasioned hy a strong south-westerly wind, hampered the berthing, which did not take place until 23 minutes past midnight. (But the men were disembarked and entrained with the greatest possible despatch. These delavs were unfortunate, though, in the circumstances, unavoidable. A large number ot people who are without radio sets, or who. because troop trains were not specifically mentioned in the broadcast announcements, were not acquainted with the change of plans, and consequently made their way to the railway station at the original hour. At 6 a.m. about 70 motor cars hud assembled, as well as quite a small crowd of people and members of the Home Guard. A few bandsmen had arrived on the scene at 4.30 a.m. I'ifteeii members of the traffic unit were also present. The early tram service which had been arranged for the conveyance of next of kin to the station in the early morning, however, had been cancelled, officials being able to contact most of the drivers last night. Flags were prominently displayed on public buildings and premises in the city and suburbs, and in 6ome cases motor cars had been decorated with small flags. v /' . Five bands were in attendance at the station—the .Band of the Ist Otago Regiment, the Kaikorai Band (augmented by several members of the Dunedin Ladies' Brass Band, the St. Kilda Band, and the Dunedin and Burns Pipe Bands. TRAIN STEAMS IN. By the time the train drew in the station platform had been cleared of the general public, but the military and other officials raised a hearty, cheer, while the bands played, welcoming tunes. The returning soldiers responded, and swarmed from the carriages to assemble at their respective posts from which they were despatched to the waiting motor cars with their next of kin. Everything here went smoothlv. and the crowd of about 12,000 which packed the streets outside the station and lined Stuart street cheered as each car passed with its smiling occupants. / CROWD GATHERS.

1 For about an hour before the arrival of the train the crowd had begun to gather in Anzac Square. It v was an orderly one, though one could sense a suppressed feeling of excitement, and when the train drew in there Was loud cheering. Those who had pressed close to the iron gates at the south end of the station had a close-up view of the returned men, a number of whom quicklv made their way to the gates and shook hands with members or the crowd, Then the,cars began to move from their parks to pick up the men and their next of kin, and when the first of the soldiers appeared at.the station entrance there was renewed loud cheering. Happy greetings with relatives were, soon over, and the cars began to move away, each being cheered as it passed through the lines of the crowd. It was a joyous home-coming. THE MAYORAL GREETING. 1

As soon as the train arrived and the men were assembled on the platform, the Mayor (Mr A. H. Allen), addressed them through the medium of the loud speaker. His Worship's speech was commendably short; just a warm Welcome and aii assurance of the city's appreciation. He said: "I understand you are desirous of losing no time in reaching your relations, wlro are anxiously waiting outside the station to j;reet you, but I cannot let this Opportunity pass without in a few words extending to you a very warm welcome home. It is now over three years since most of you left us, during which time you have endured great .hardships, even risk of life. You have maintained the high standard of efficiency and valour set by the men of the First New Zealand'Expeditionary Force, as we knew you would, do. We are very proud of you, and most grateful for the gallant part you played in routing the enemy in the North' African campaign. We can, in the meantime, say only ' Thank you ' for your bravery and devotion to duty. The words are not merely formal, but are the expression of our hearts. Your noble deeds will be recorded for all time in the history of our nation. Wo feel you thoroughly deserve your furlough, and hope you Will enjoy every minute of it." WHEN THE WHISTLES BLEW. Passengers on the slow train from Oamarii, which arrived in Port Chalmers about 11.15 this morning, must have been nonplussed for a moment with the reception that greeted them. The ""platform was packed with John Citizen and his wife (and infant) from the borough, and a burst of cheering

greeted the train as it rounded the curve- Vessels, in ' the port added to the clamour with their whistles, and those from the various foundries tried to outdo them. It was a genuine mistake, but when the troop train did arrive the whistles—and the <Jrowd—made amend by redoubling their uoise. Truly they made the welkin ring! AT PORT CHALMERS. The people of Port Chalmers gave their returning boys, some 16 in number, inclusive of two or three from surrounding bays, a right royal welcome. All businesses were deserted, for, right down to the last man almost, the town poured into the station, choked the roadway, and lined far up the railway track ■in anticipation ,of 1 getting a glimpse of the returning veterans as the train swung round the , curve from Carey's Bay. The school children, too, lined up outside the station and "cheered lusStily as only children can as the long express steamed in. During the long period of waiting the Port Chalmers Marine Band played \ selections, and on the arrival of the train the boys were greeted with the strains of " For he's.a jolly good fellow." On behalf of the borough the boys were briefly welcomed by the de-puty-mayor, Mr A. L. Cassie. while Mr J, S. Thorn, secretary of the local branch of the U.S.A., also extended a welcome to the local'boys. The latter had two of his own boys returning, and, fidgeting up and down the station during the long wait for the train, he remarked that it was just 42 years ago yesterday that his own parents had waited on the station for his return from.the Boer Wai\ He never visualised then that 42 years later he would lie anxiously waiting for the return of hia own boys. GUARD'S TRIBUTE. " They're the finest lot of chaps I've ever had anything to do with," stated the senior guard on the train, " and it's been a treat to be associated with them," All the way down the line, he said, at the 17 stops the express had made.and . at all the other wayside stations, everyone turned out to give these veterans of Greece and Crete and Libya a warm and hearty welcome, . Every hamlet and village and every farmhouse en route provided a quota to the warmth-of welcome for the men, he added.

No wonder, then; that there 'was a feeling almost akin to shyness in them. It was noticeable aibove the keen but suppressed excitement of the individual.

In the short journey from Port Chalmers to the city lean, bronzed soldiers straightened out their recumbent forms, gathered up kitbags, greatcoats, and other equipment, and waved back in genuine appreciation to.all the children from the district schools en route who lined the ways to -greet them. LITTLE TO SAY. Thev had little to say, these men from 'the great war zone of Africa. They were thrilled to get back, they said. The news that they were to get leave came us a bombshell to them, bub] a. very welcome one, and in striking contrast to the type they had been combating for so long. It was a great trip home, they all said, except the express steamer crossing. Dirtv weather and a head wind tossed them about and delayed them, but it made the ultimate arrival all the more genuinely pleasurable. ."■We'll be. going back," was . the theme of their'answer when questioned on this score, " but we've got him oil the run now. What's happening i,n the Mediterranean is just the start." Yes, it was a great home-coming. Workmen . along the railway line downed tools to give the boys the " glad hand." And so it was until the express steamed into the Dunedin station, where relatives waited with what patience they could muster for the detraining of p their/'menfolk.

THE SOUTHERN CONTINGENT. The first stir this morning occurred when the train carrying about 300 men for destinations south of Dunedin steamed into the station'. The bands, which had previously been discoursing music from various positions on the platform, " played the lads in." cheers from the waiting folk blending with the strains.' The men, on alighting, were quickly guided to the section where refreshments were waiting for them. This part of the proceedings was attended to by the Mayoress's Patriotic Committee and helpers and by members of 'the Services Club, and so efficient was the- organisation that the 300 men had all received their bag of eatables and cup-of tea or coffee .within 10 minutes. The rest of the stay of half an hour the men spent in talking among themselves and " stretching their legs." R.S.A. AMENITIES.

The club rooms of the Dunedin Returned Services' Association are at the disposal of the men during their furlough in the city. A welcome is expended to them to make full use of the facilities of the club.