DISTRICT MEN ARRIVE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 211, 6 August 1945, Page 4

DISTRICT MEN ARRIVE

WELCOME AT STATION. Several hundred people gathered at the Palmerston North Railway Station yesterday about midday when a special train conveying Manawaut, Taranaki and Hawke's Bay returned prisoners of war reached the city. The W.JV.S.A., Red Cross and St. John Ambulance members assisted in providing refreshments for those not alighting here. There were the usual happy reunions and scenes of enthusiasm. All of the men looked fit despite the harrowing experiences •through which many of them had passed. The E.P.S. transport section provided cars for the men and next-of-kin wdio required them. Among these present to welcome the men were the Mayor and Mayoress (Mr and Mrs Mansford) and Mr J. Hodgens, M.P. Among those who returned was Pte. J._ Gallichan, who is well-known in cricket circles in the city. He was captured at El Alamein in July, 1942, and spent his captivity in various prisons until released after taking part in the grim 700-mile march when the Germans fell back in the face of the Russian, advance.

Over 500 men passed through on a special train on Saturday night en route to Auckland. They were supplied with refreshments at Palmerston North and given the customary welcome. On this train were four airmen from Palmerston North and district, two with their wives and children. The Mayor and Mayoress (Mr and Mrs Mansford) were present to welcome thepi, also Lieut. Smith (railway transport officer) and Sergt.Major D. Leng-Ward. One of the soldiers on this train was Gm. H. C. Walker, who formerly resided in Palmerston North.

The following are the Palmerston North and district men who returned„?.fj? er f ton North.-Capt. R. E>. Spencer (I' eildmg), son of Mr and Mrs R. H. Spencer, of Palmerston North; Capt A To Puni, Ptcs C. J. Bosworth, a' h". Bovis, A. P. Franklin-Browne, Dvr. R. B. Cameron, Pte. J. Gallichan, Gnr' M T. Gattsche, Ptes. T. E. Goldfinch*, R," I'j. Hamming, J. King, A. R. Kirkpatrick. E. C. Larsen, P. A. Lynch, D H. McDonald, J. Elhone, J H Procter B. R. Sharp, R. Shipton, Gnr. W M* Stevens, 'Pte. C. H. Taylor. Pies. A. Agnew, Feilding; R. H. Berry, Whakarongo; Staff-Sergr, N. M. Doha's, Feilding; Pte. A. H. Forbes, Feilding; Pte. N. H. Gifkins, Sanson; Sergt. T. Graham. Kau'whata; Ptes R. L Harvey, Oroua Downs; A. P. Kerrison, Mangatainoka; P. Larkin, Awahuri; L/Cpl L E. Lilley, Eketahuna; Ptes. R. K Marshall, Ashhurst : J. I. Phillips, Rongotea; B. S. Sanders, Ashhurst; M A. Signal, Feilding; A. J. Smart. Mafc'un'■: A. T. Scrivens. Eketahuna; Gnr K V Voss, Woodville; Ptes. A. T. Wood, Shannon ; K. A. Zweibruck, Feilding. The following are included in the Air Force personnel from the United King-dom—Flight-Lieut. E. J. Abraham. Palmerston North -. Flying-Officer T. D. Altv, Palmerston North; Flving-Officer J. s" Hulena, Palmerston North. also Mrs Tlulena and child: Flight-Lieut. L. W. Kennedy, Palmerston North, also Mrs* Kennedy and child. Among iho Air Force ex-prisoners of war is Flight-Lieut. G E. Guthrie. Feilding