AT ASHBURTON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17286, 29 September 1916, Page 7

AT ASHBURTON.

AN ENTHUSIASTIC WELCOME.

The special train containing the wounded and invalided soldiers who returned by the Willochra a stop of twelve minutes at Ashburton and the men were given a most enthusiastic welcomo by a largo gathering which had assembled on the platform. The only Ashburton man to arrive wa&

Lieutenant Percy Stephens, wK? has returned invalided.

Lieutenant Stephens was met by a large .number of personal friends, and amongst those present were the Mayor (Mr R. Galbraith) and Mr C. W. Nicoll, honorary' secretary of tho Ashburton County Wounded Soldiers’ Fund, both of whom cordially welcomed Lieutenant Stephens. •Whilst this was going; on a wounded sergeant-major got a- number of wounded comrades around, and they sang with great gusto a song entitled “Bill Massey’s Army,”’ and all appeared as jolly as the proverhial sandboy, ’fho Mayor, on behalf of the town and district, warmly welcomed Lieuten-ant-Colonel Hutton and'the men who were under his charge back to New Zealand and thanked them sincerely for the brave and noble part they had taken in the war. He thanjked fho nurses who wore on board the train for the splendid work they had done, and also specially. thanked Lieutenant Stephens. Hearty cheers were given for the soldiers as the train moved off on its way north.