JOYOUS RETURN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21604, 5 January 1945, Page 2

JOYOUS RETURN

N.2.E.F. PERSONNEL ARRIVAL AT GISBORNE Some 27 Gisborne and East Coast men who returned to New Zealand With the latest draft of Second N.Z.R.F. personnel from Ihe Mediterranean theatre of war arrived at Gisborne' by last night's express from Wellington The platform was crowded and cheers greeted the men a; the train pulled slowly into the station. The men were travelling in one carriage and many of them left their seats to scan the crowd in search of relatives and friends as the engine drew level with the station building. Many wore the now-familiar Africa Star ribbon and all looked remarkably fit. meriting the remark of a bystander that they might well have returned from a recuperative holiday rather than years of gruelling warfare.

The deputy-Mayor. Mr. TI. IT. De Costa, briefly welcomed the men as they alighted from the train. All were bright and cheerful, but appeared to accept a joyous homecoming with the same restraint and absence of noticeable emotion that has marked the earlier return of their comrades.

There vyere scenes of emotion as they embraced wives, mothers and sweethearts or vigourously shook hands with relatives and friends. There were tears of joy at the thought of long-vacant places being filled, and of sadness at the remembrance of men still to come home and of those who are not to return.