ILLITERATE SOLDIER

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 November 1944, Page 3

ILLITERATE SOLDIER

APPEAL FOR TRAINING.

AUCKLAND, October 31

That a soldier aged 24, at present home on furlough after 19 months active service with the 3rd Division in the Pacific, could not read or - write was disclosed at a sitting of the No. 1 Armed Forces Appeal Board. An appeal against the soldier being mobilised for further service overseas was lodged by his parents on the grounds that such service would seriously jeopardise his chances of overcoming his educational deficiencies. In evidence the soldier’s father, a veteran of the last war and the Boer Wai’, said his son, after training with the territorials, volunteered lor the expeditionary force on attaining 21, and had served in Fiji, New Caledonia where he was a dispatch riaer, Vella Lavella, and Treasury Island. Me. returned to New Zealand in July, and his furlough would expire on November 7. Both the principal of the Seduon Memorial Technical College (Mr. G. J. Park) and Mr. A. E. Thompson, Lecturer in education at the Auckland University College, had expressed amazement that his son had been aL lowed to undertake service overseas in spite of his illiteracy, continued witness. They suggested that the reservist should be given special vocational training. . Witness said that continued illnesses in his early life, and family circumstances during the depression, had interfered with the boy's education. Before the war he had taken a special course in reading and writing under a psychologist in addition to attending night classes at the technical college. He was a steel and metal worker by trade, and his employers stated that although he was illiterate he showed unusual ability with his hands. “My son is not anxious to leave the Army with the prospects of European service ahead.” added witness; “but we feel he should be allowed to take special tuition while lie is still young, so that ho will not have to face life with a growing inferiority complex. He does not want any repatriation or rehabilitation aid.” . The case was referred to the Director of Mobilisation for a decision.