TASMAN AVIATORS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 13 September 1928, Page 9

TASMAN AVIATORS

ALL EX-SERVICE MEN. ENTERTAINED BY R.S.A. PROUD OF BEING DIGGERS (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, iSept. 13. All the members of the icrew of the Southern Gross are ex-service men, the Navy, Army and Air Force being represented and their intense popularity with New Zealand returned (soldiers was demonstrated by the enthusiasm that prevailed at a smoke concert given in their honour toy the Christchurch Returned Soldiers’ Association last night. Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith replying to the welcome, said: “It is a very proud moment in our lives, tonight, believe me (applause). This is the first occasion that we have talked to our owu kith and kin, and I can tell you we’re proud of toeing diggers.” lie added 'that they were proud of the welcome Christchurch had given them. They deprecated toeing regarded as heroes. “We’re not heroes,” he remarked, “we are not of the hero type. The night before' last, when we had a bit of trouble in crossing the Tasman, I can assure you that I had the ‘wind up’ worse than I’d ever had when in France, and I had the ‘wind up’ there a few times.” “.Smithy and I are Australians and ‘Lit'eh,” well he’s got to admit that he’s Australian too,” said Flight-Lieut-enant Ulm. He added that ..they had had two good men with them on the trip to Australia, but they now had two equally good men Lind without them thev could not have got over the Tasman the night before last, or whenever it was (laughter). He did not regard himself as a hero. He was hero when he landed on Gallipoli, but if it hadn’t been for the water behind him, he would have been running yet (renewed laughter).

ROUSING RECEPTION AT .'SCHOOLS. CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 13. Eight hundred cheered (SquadronLeader Kingsford 'Smith franetieally this morning when he visited Sydenham School and gave a brief address, beginning “I’m a bit of a boy myself.” He invited the pupils to make an inspection of the 'Southern Cross. The children presented Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith with a bouquet of flowers.and a tiki. ENTERTAINMENT AT WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON, Sept. 13. The New Zealand Returned 'Soldiers’ Association has wired congratulations to the airmen and hopes to entertain them at Wellington. They will be the guests of the Trotting Glub on Sat.urdnv.