SPECIAL LEAVE GIVEN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20625, 28 November 1941, Page 2

SPECIAL LEAVE GIVEN

NEW ZEALAND SOLDIERS URGENT PRIVATE AFFAIRS (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. A party of expeditionary force soldiers who are stated to have been given leave to attend to urgent private affairs has arrived in Auckland from the Middle East. The party includes Sergeant W. Hanley, of Auckland, whose three young children were left without a guardian to care for them when his wife died in September. As a result of steps taken by Captain Quane, sick and wounded officer for the Northern Military District, the children were found satisfactory temporary quarters and a request was made to the Government for Sergeant Hanley to be granted leave to arrange for his children’s welfare. After a first refusal the Government took steps to ask Middle East Headquarters to grant the requisite leave. The children are at present staying in two private homes, the two boys being looked after in one home and the girl in another. Other soldiers who returned were Major P. N. Cryer, Wellington; Captain O. J. Hutchinson, Hokitika; Captain O. Jones, Rotorua; Lieutenant T. A. Mead, Blenheim: 2nd Lieutenant A. E. Broad, Westport; 2nd Lieutenant A. G M. Holmes, Hawke’s Bay; Cadet Officer M. B. Dawson, Wellington: Sergeant-Major T. Whnlle.v, Petonc; Corporal E. B. Topp. Wellington; Lance-Corporal;. R. S. Dixon, Geraldine; Lance-Corporal P. L. Hansen; Waimate; Lance-Corporal W. J. White. Invercargill; Gunner C. T. Climic, Christchurch; Privates W. J. Blowitt, Christchurch; G. Cummings, Christchurch; J. E. I-lerlihy, Porirua; R- Howarth, Auckland; E. Pitman, Whangarci; A. J. Ryan, Hastings; tind A. J. Halsemore, Riverton. On arrival the soldiers were met by officers of the sick and wounded branch ancl were medically boarded and X-rayed. Those for the south were attended to as quickly as possible to enable them to catch travel connections and they were able to leave last night. All are proceeding to their homes as soon as possible.