SOLDIER’S RETURN

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 January 1944, Page 2

SOLDIER’S RETURN

STOWED AWAY ON PLANE

AUCKLAND, January 19. The story of. how a New Zealand soldier on active service in New Caledonia returned to New Zealand by stowing away on a plane was told at a court-martial at Papakura Camp. Private Stephen Wingrove, aged 20, pleaded not guilty to a charge that, when on active service in New Caledonia, on December 4, he absented himself without leave till he surrendered himself at Auckland on December 13.

Major Matthews, district assistant provost officer, said that Wingrove left for overseas service in 1943. On December 5 witness received word from an air station to the effect that two New Zealand soldiers, one of whom was Wingrove, had arrived by plane and could not be located. Search was made foi’ the men without success. On December 12 Wingrove rang up witness and said he had been chased a bit too hard. He asked what he should do, and was advised to surrender. He did so the following day.

The accused made a statement to the effect that he left his unit, with a friend on December 4, and on the following morning they boarded a plane bound for New Zealand. No questions were asked, but it was afterwards noticed that there were more people aboard than was shown on the list. The accused then told an officer he had got on the plane without authority. His friend was then found on board the plane. On arrival both alighted and hid themselves In some scrub, later obtaining a ride to town. In a statement on behalf of the accused, Major Murray submitted that there was no evidence of any intention to desert. Apparently the accused was somewhat unstable and what he did was a natural thing to do in time of stress, when he was worried concerning his wife. Major Boyes said the desertion was different from the usual cases. The accused absented himself from the division on active service and returned to New Zealand. Major Boyes referred to the effect on other men overseas if the offence was allowed to go unpunished. If there was any redeeming feature about the case, it was that the accused had surrendered. The Court’s finding will be promulgated.