BACK IN GISBORNE:

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21809, 4 September 1945, Page 4

BACK IN GISBORNE:

REPATRIATES DRAFT • SMALL PARTY ARRIVES WARM WELCOME “It’s great to be back in Gisborne,” tvas the slogan of a small party of exprisoners of war who returned to their home district last night after a delayed dispatch from the port of disembarkation. The men of the draft had littleenough opportunity of observing the . town at the moment of arrival for the",* night was disconcertingly cold and wet, and the railway station was swept by a ;l bitter wind, carrying squalls of icy a rain. .Physical conditions did not, however, affect the warmth of the welcome extended to the returning soldiers by a large crowd of relatives and friends. The arrival of the train well behind schedule, and the troops did riot detrain until 12.20 a.m., the journey from Wellington having been a long and wearisome one, though the repatriated men received kindly attention from people at all the stations en route, and at Wairoa were offered entertainment by a local committee while waiting to complete their journey. Owing to the heavy passenger list for stations north of Napier, the soldiers were sent ahead of the steam train in a railcar, and at Wairoa they waited about an hour and a half for the train to overtake them. This interval was filled agreeably enough at the County Club, which was thrown open ■to the soldiers and their entertainers. _ The train was filled almost to capacity for the final stage of the journey, and a further slight loss of time occurred between Wairoa and Gisborne, but the returning ex-prisoners were not in a mood to cavil.

Quick Dispatch to Homes Waiting to welcome them they found a substantial crowd of relatives and friends, with spirited band music playing in the background, and every facility available for a quick dispatch to their homes. The late hour and the weather conditions had discouraged sightseers from attending the reception, and this enabled the incoming troops to move more freely and to make contact more quickly with their relatives. The Mayor, Mr. N. H. Bull, and a representative of the Gisborne Returned Services’ Association conveyed a token greeting to the men, on behalf of the citizens of Gisborne and of exservicemen in the community. With the customary celerity, the returning men were put into cars and sped off to their homes, the Red Cross ambulance unit being available for emergency transport but no call being made on its services. Within a few minutes the station platform was cleared, and another of Gisborne’s welcomes to its returning troops was over.