WAR PRISONERS

Hokitika Guardian, 28 August 1933, Page 8

WAR PRISONERS

REUNION IN SYDNEY J'JFE IN TURKISH CAMP An unexpected, though happy, re" union was related recently by the Aus” traljan Minister of Customs Mr White. Speaking at the Quota Club in Sydney, the Minister, a lieutenant-colonel in the Great War, referred to his experiences as a prisoner of war in the Turkish internment camp at Afion Kara Hisgar, in Central Asia Minor. Another pirisoner in the same camp was a New Zealander named Reginald Davie, who was badly wounded in Palestine. Mr Davie was in Sydney on bis way to his farm near Glen Innes when he read the report of the Minister’s speech. He searched for the Minister, whom' he located at. the hotel where he was. staying. . There was a.touching reunion—on the anniversary of the day the New Zealander, was taken prisoner. And they celebrated the occasion at a theatre. “The last time we saw each oilier,” said the .Minister, “we ' were more or less ragged.. There were only about ,70 Australian and New, Zealand prisoners in the Turkish . interment camp, ,of whom about 20 were Flying Corps men.”, . Mr White said that on the occasion of a visit to Mil dura recently he met a large .number of ex-service men. .When told that a man who was a prisoner pf war with him was located at “Ned’s Corner,” he drove across,a wide stretch of country when lie encountered a boundary rider. “Who, 4 s you bossP” asked, the Minister. ‘.‘McPherson, replied the boundary rid r. That was the. name of the man for whom Mr White was searching, anu later, in Mildura, there was ft reunion. Mr James -Young, of Sydney, an ex-trooper in the 7th Light Horse, states that he was also a prisoner in the same camp at the 'same time. He exhibited a number <>f photographs of the camp and residence, of Mr., then Colonel,, White, and,the Minister's fav" ourite dog, Pointer. Pointer ■ was a great favourite of the Australian and New Zealand internees. He was a mystry'dog, Xo one knew how he got into the camp, and he was probably the only dog of his breed in the country. There was great sorrow ,in the camp when, at the Armistice, Pointer was destroyed because it was felt that the Turks would not properly treat him when the prisoners .left. Mr Young said that during, the four month’s sojourn at- the. camp,he acted as cook to the British .hospital.