N.Z. PROCESSION IN LONDON

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 136, 10 May 1945, Page 5

N.Z. PROCESSION IN LONDON

V.C. WINNER LEADS CROWD. (Special Correspondent.! (Rec. 9.20 a.m.) LONDON, May 9 The sight of Sergeant Jack T-linton. V.C., holding a largo Union Jack which he had acquired in Trafalgar Square and. followed hv hundreds, marching all the way , from the Square to the Fernloaf Club in Knightsbridre where . packed crowds stood outside cheering for the King. Mr Churchill and anybody else they could think of. will remain one' of the brighter memories ofYE-Day in London for many New Zealanders.

Surrounded by New Zealanders and followed by civilians and men and women in all types of uniform. Sergt. Hinton. who only recently returned from beinc: a prisoner, thoroughly enjoved himself and ho did the crowd. Both at the Fernleaf Club and at the New Zealand Forces' Club short services were held and both were crowded to hear Air f'liurehtll's speech. The services were taken by Major S. ('. Bead. The High Commissioner (Mr Jordan) read the lesson and later paid a very warm tribute to the voluntary workers who had given their timeand leisure in the past five years. Messrs Holland and Doidge also spoke. At the New Zealand repatriation centre in Kent returned men took the news of victory very calmly for in one respect they had already had their YF.-Day. A visit to the centre _ was paid by Sir Patrick Duff (who is to succeed Sir Harry Batterbee as High Oommisisoner for Great Britain in'New Zealand), with Lady Duff, and accompanied by Mr B. M. Campbell, official secretary of New Zealand House. Sir Patrick and Lady Duff and General Kippenberger sat on the beds of the sick men in the hospital at Haines and with them listened to Mr Churchill's broadcast.

"f wish the parents and relatives of these men could have been with us at the centre,". said Sir Patrick later. "It would have given the men a comfortable feeling of reassurance. Everything possible is being done for tliem and there is no .red tape, and the least that is possible in the way of regimentation."

Sir Patrick and Lady Duff expect to arrive in New Zealand early in July via America. More than 1700 New Zealanders are now being handled at the repatriation centre and-many of them are on leave. There arc just over 200 men in the New Zealand hospital, while 90 more are being cared for in a British hospital since no more can be accommodated at Haines. It is hoped that all New Zealand prisoners will arrive in England from Germany within a comparatively short time now and that about COO men will sail for New Zealand towards the end of this month as a "first shipment."