SOLDIERS ON FURLOUGH

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 July 1943, Page 2

SOLDIERS ON FURLOUGH

GREYMOUTH’S CIVIC WELCOME

Grey district men who returned on Tuesday on furlough after service in the Middle East and- other district men who returned earlier from overseas service were accorded a civic welcome home at the Greymouth Town Hall last evening. The hall was packed and the men were given an enthusiastic welcome by citizens. As the guests filed on to the stage they were introduced by Mr. N. Messenger, who also returned from overseas recently. The Mayor (Mr. F. A. Kitchingham) presided and associated with him at the main table were the Mayoress (Mrs. Kitchingham), Mr. J. O’Brien (Minister of. Transport) and Mrs. O’Brien, while all local bodies, R.S.A., Red Cross, Army Department, and patriotic organisations were represented. The Municipal Band, under the baton o! Mr. T. Anderson, opened proceedings with the National Anthem. Items were given by Mr. J. Duffy, who also led community singing. Miss K. Gieseking presided at the piano. As nine o’clock struck the gathering stood in silence as a mark of respect to the memory of men who have paid the supreme sacrifice. The Mayor said that the civic welcome that evening was the redemption of a promise given to the first men who came back to Greymouth from service overseas, that they would be received publicly at a later date. When the men started to return they had done so in small parties and it was not practicable to extend a civic welcome to them. Now the arrival of the present body ol men had given the opportunity for a welcome to all who had returned to date. He wished on behalf ol the citizens of Greymouth and district to extend the most cordial of welcomes to the men back to their native heath. AH were pleased to see them back among their own kith ana kin and it was the sincerest wish of all citizens that the men would enjoy to the full their well-earned furlough. Their deeds had been followed with pride and he wish to thank them for all they nad done and endured since they left New Zealand. He congratulated the men on their great deeds in North Africa, where on the shores of the sea which had seen military clashes for centuries they had fought and defeated the would-be conquerors of the world. In co-operation with then Allies thev had annihilated the proud forces of Germany and Italy and thenachievements would rank with tne best in the past. No victory could have been more complete than tnat in North Africa nor could there be a victory more pregnant with possibilities for the future. He trusted that before many months had past the armed forces of the Allies would have won the war- and then would come the winning of the peace ahead. It would be for the fighting men ol to-day and their generation to take the place of the present rulers of tne country and their task on the winning of the war would be the winning of the peace, with the achievement of all that they hoped and believed could be attained. The torch of freedom and progress will be handed to you and I know you will bear it bravely and well, said Mr. Kitchingham. “It is the wish of all the citizens that during, your fuilough you will have nothing but undiluted pleasure.”

i MINISTER’S TRIBUTE. ! The Minister of Transport (Mr. > O’Brien) said it gave him extreme : pleasure to associate himself with ' the welcome to the men. He did not think he could say any word of appreciation that would convey the sentiments he wanted to express to those men who had done so much and endured so much for the people at home. He had heard their _ Comi mander, Lieutenant General Sir Bernard Freyberg speak of his men on several occasions recently and every time he had thrilled his hearers witn pride. General Freyberg had not been sparing in his praise, and he had said, after enumerating many oi the glorious achievements of the New Zealanders that if they never fought again their names would go down in history as one of the best divisions that had ever fought for Britain (Applause). The New Zealanders had made records and history lor New Zealand, and he felt that they fully deserved all that could be given them but he knew that as lai as New 'Zealand was concerned they could not hope to give them anything that would adequately repay them for what they had done. He hoped it would be possible to bring home to New Zealand every man who had been away fighting for such a term as the men who had just re turned, but he sincerely hoped that before the time came for the present contingent to go back that the war would be finished. The indications to-day were that the war would be finished sooner than had previously been esti- ' mated for it looked as if Italy was : ready to “curl up” at any time and : Germany appeared to be making her ■ last effort * against Russia. Mr. ; O’Brien referred to the home defence ' achievements in New Zealand when I the Japanese threat came ano to the splendid efforts on the production ' front, despite the fact that New Zealand had had 160.G00 men overseas or in camp. He also referred to the i pensions payable to disabled men ; and their dependents and the de- ■ pendents of men who fell m action land to the plans already made to assist in the rehabilitation ot returned men. He hoped that the Allies would be able to win the peace as well as the war so that in another 25 or 30 years there would not . be ' another such blood bath, involving the loss of thousands of the flower of New Zealand’s manhood. New Zealand was very proud of what the men of the Second N.Z.E.F. had done and all would do their best to make the stav of the men on furlough as happy as possible. New Zealand was ’ prepared to do its share in appicciai tion of what they and their mates still overseas had achieved. Mr O. McLean (President of the Grey R.S.A.) said that as the men had probably had enough speeches and lectures in the Army <.O go them for a lifetime he would noi take up their time, but he wished on behalf of the R.S.A., to assure them of a hearty welcome and to let tnem know that anything that the Association could do to assist them enjoy their stay would be most willingly done. Mr. W. Fisher (Chairman of tne Grey County Council) also added his welcome on behalf ol the people of the country districts. He trusted that by the time their fui- ; lough was completed the war situai tion would have altered to sucn an extent that it would not be necessary i for them to go back to the held of ’ battle. SGT. ANISY’S REPLY. Sergeant S. Anisy replied on. be- , half of the returned men. He said he I did not know why he had been, “picked on” unless it was because ■ the Army did everything by the alI phabet, beginning with the A’s. He ! thanked the speakers sincerely for ; the sentiments they had _ expressed ; and the citizens for turning out in 1 such large numbers. The men who were back considered themselves i fortunate to get the chance but they ' were very sorry for the pals they had left behind. They knew, however, that it was due to transport difficulties that all could not come at once, but those who had been left this time would get their turn. Others there were who would not come back —men who had fallen, “and

they were the best of us.” The saying that there was no place like home was not fully appreciated by the men until they had arrived at Greymouth on Tuesday afternoon to be met by such a large gathering of friends. The welcome then and again, that evening was sincerely appreciated. At Sgt. Anisy’s call the returned men sang “For They Are Jolly Good Fellows.” , , , T The singing of “God Defend New Zealand” concluded the function. . Later the returned men and their next-of-kin were entertained at supper. HOKITIKA WELCOME A large crowd assembled at the Railway Station on Monday evening to welcome, home the members of tne 2nd N.Z.E.F. on furlough. The station was gaily decorated with greenery, flags and bunting, but owing to tne gathering darkness most people were unable to see any of the boys, who were sent home with their next-oi-kin in cars supplied and driven by members of the W.W.S.A. Transport Section in uniform. The Municipal Band provided the musical honours and there was a guard of honour of ex-servicemen. Yesterday afternoon the Mayor called a general holiday from 1 p.m. and at 3 p.m. the steps of the Soldiers’ Hall, which was also . decorated, were the scene of a civic reception. Music was provided by the band and speeches of welcome were made by the Mayor, Mr A. R. Elcock, Mr F. J. Perham (President R.S.A.), Chief Tuhuru Tainui (Maoris), Mr J. O’Brien and Mr G. Rowley (Chairman of the Westland County Council). After the singing of “For They are Jolly Good Fellows” and the National Anthem, Major E. E. Richards, in a lew words, thanked the speakers and public, on behalf of the returned men. In the evening the Returned Services’ Association entertained the men at a banquet in the Soldiers’ Hall. A large crowd was present and a pleasant time was spent with toasts, items, singing and music, while the men were given the opportunity of renewing old acquaintances, and numerous invitations were given to functions to be held during their slay.

ENTERTAINMENT GRANT,

WELLINGTON. July 14

The Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) sent a telegram to-day to each of the mayors of cities and boroughs, and the chairmen of counties. and town boards, advising them that the Government wholeheartedly desired to be associated with any welcome and entertainments they were arranging for members of the 2nd N.Z.E.F. home on furlough, and also other members of the forces who had returned to New Zealand from overseas, including naval and air personnel, and women of the services. For the purpose of carrying out entertainments, the Government was placing at the disposal of local authorities a substantial financial contribution. BRIGADIER GENTRY WELLINGTON, July 14. Brigadier W. G. Gentry, D. 5.0., 0.8. E., who commanded an infantry brigade of the New Zealand Division during the Battle of Egypt last year, has returned to New Zealand to take up an appointment on the General Staff, Army Headquarters, Wellington. After a cadetship at the Royal Military College, Duntroon, N.5.W. % he was" attached in 1920 to the Indian Army for a course of instruction. He returned to the Dominion in 1922, and was promoted Captain in 1926. In 1932, he passed the entrance exam, for the Camberley Staff College and again the following year. In 1934, he left New Zealand for special training at engineering courses at Chatham, and returned in 1936, and resumed a Staff appointment in 1937. He again left for a two years’ course at Camberley and was promoted Major. While still in England in 1939 at the outbreak of war. he was placed at the disposal of the War Office, and was employed in organisation of the air defence of Great Britain. Afterwards, the New Zealand Government requested that he 'be relieved from these duties and attached to the New Zealand Division. In 1940, he was promoted Lieut.-Col. and appointed Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster General. He took part in the Greece and Crete campaigns, and was awarded the 0.8. E. in 1941 and promoted Colonel in that year. His promotion to Brigadier was while commanding an infantry brigade in the battle for Egypt, and was made in Septmber 1942. For service in that campaign, he was awarded the D.S.O.