WOUNED ARRIVE

Grey River Argus, 1 March 1945, Page 2

WOUNED ARRIVE

BATTLE SCARRED VETERANS. WELCOMED BY CABINET MEMBERS'. P.A. WELLINGTON, February 28. Stoically bearing war injuries, many of the members of another draft or servicemen to return from the battle zones walked down the gangway of the hospital ship on which they had been placed as stretcher cases. The.r improvement through care and attention given them on the ship during the voyage was a matter of special comment when they wer e greeted at the port of disc t -barkation. The medical officer in cnarge (LieutenantColonel Bennett), remarked that throughout the trip they had done valiantly, and had co-operated splendidly. Many and varied were the actions through which the returned servicemen had been, and in many cases scars of battle were evidence of their gallantry, as were decorations which some of them wore. The party, was made up largely of men who had been wounded by high-explosive shells, ma-chine-guns, oi’ land mines. In the case of one, Lieutenant-Com-mander Palmer, of Auckland, a sea action off Sardinia accounted for injuries from which he to have made a good recovery. This naval officer had been blown up when serving on a minesweeper, and _ had had his legs and arms broken. Most members of the draft, which included some servicewomen, have seen hard lighting in the Middle East and on through Italy, where those who had got as far as Florence, Rimini, and Faenza had found the going much more difficult than hud been anticipated generally. It was remarked by. one that the plains of Northern Italy, on which it had been hoped to give the Hun another real taste of tank hunting, were “a fallacy.” Conditions had been found to be bad, and progress had been hampered by the weather as well as by maty canals, water-logged ditches, and the like. However, the outcome in that theatre Vzis viewed hopefully, some of the servicemen setting it down at a matter of months.

On the conflict generally the views of the men varied a good deal, but. it was felt by not a few of them that the battle on the Western Front would be over before that in Italy., The thanks of the Government aiid the country for the part played by the members of the returned party were expressed by the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, at the official reception. All, he said, appreciated their suffering and sacrifice, and th e fight the.v had put up for their Fie appealed to all who had returned to see 'that they had a thorough medical examination before leaving for their homes, as it might be the means of avoiding ' difficulties in later years, when evidence of war service might be shown. “Keep back nothing, tell everything, and then you will get the justice that is due to you,” Mr Fraser added.. It was most gratifying to go aboard the ship, and hear the appreciative remarks by the men of the care and attention given them on the voyage, said the Minister of Defence, Mr Jones, in adding words of. welcome. It has been a matter of interest too, to learn from a repatriated prisoner of war of the good work being done by the organisation which had been set up in England to look after repatriated men as they arrived there. “We hope it will not be long before the rest are repatriated,” he said, and added, “that is what it looks like.” The Minister of Rehabilitation, Mr Skinner, also spoke. Replies on behalf of the returned personnel were made by Lieutenant-Colonel Bennett, and Lieutenant-Commander Palmer. WEST COASTERS IN PARTY. Four West Coasters are included in the parly of sick, wounded, and other personnel who have recently returned to New Zealand from the Mediterranean theatre of war. They are:— Pte. T. B. Duncan (mother, Mrs A. Duncan, 16 Peel Street, Westport). L/Cpl: J. F'. Keenan (mother, Mrs C. Keenan, Roy'al Mail Hotel, Woodstock). Pte. C. J. Murphy (wife, Mrs D. M. Murphy, 53 Fleming Street, North Beach," Canterbury, and whose mother Mrs M. Murphy, lives at Euccleugh Street, Greymouth). Pte. O. E’ Woodward (wife, Mrs E. Woodward, 55 Henley Street, Westport ).