“BLIGHTY LEAVE”

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21604, 5 January 1945, Page 3

“BLIGHTY LEAVE”

NORMANDY VETERANS ARRIVAL~IN BRITAIN WAR-WEARY* CIVILIANS (Special Correspondent.) (9 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 4. The arrival of men of the British Liberation Army on seven days “Blightj” leave has been one of the most interesting events recently for people in Britain. It is true that the number of men who have drawn the lucky ticket in the ballot is not large, but in hundreds of homes there has been joy and celebration at the return of those who went ashore in Normandy on D-day. There were touching scenes at a London railway station when the troop trains arrived. Crowds cheered the grinning, bashful soldiers as their wives, some of whom had waited for 10 hours in order not to miss a minute of their time with their husbands, greeted .the men. This leave comes at a time when war-weariness among the population has probably reached its highest peak since the outbreak, and many happy family reunions are helping to blunt the sharp edges of strain. Popular newspapers have given considerable space to these reunions, and to photographs of soldiers with their families. The supplementary New Year s Honours list also has given wide satisfaction in hundreds of homes, at the recognition of what has been described as “the toll of millions in Britain’s war effort.” Thix-teen. per cent of the awards were won by the Merchant Navy, which is a fitting tribute to this service, on which the country has relied so greatly and which does not always receive the plaudits given to the services. Civilian New Year Honours

Contrary to New Zealand practice, this system of bestowing awards on civilians has been maintained throughout the war, and it must have been a source of gratification to many who perform humdrum and monotonous .tasks in the war effort. For instance, the M.B.E. was won by a woman who was described as “principal .trainer of women's crews for canal, boats.” Other women won recognition for work as fostermothers of evacuated children, and a woman of 84, who won the 8.E.M., has 71 yeai's’ service in the Lancashire cotton industry, and despite her age still does a full working day. Men who have won awards include station-masters, ship surveyors, railway goods executives, miners and colliery managers, munition workers, and a crane-driver.

The work of finding 250,000 men “to sustain and nourish our armies in the line” has begun. It is reported that xnany may come from the number of redundant workers who are being released from .the munition industries, and particularly from aircraft factories. It is also expected that about 50,000 men will be transferred from other services to the army, in order to train those coming in from civil life. It is stated that as far as possible recruits will come from the ranks of single men in the younger age-gi-oups. Miners, farm and transport workers are unlikely to be affected. More women also are invited to volunteer for the women’s services, and there has been something of a rush to join the Wrens, in particular. Many girls have remarked that they are “tired of civvy life,” and are hoping to get overseas.