Returned Men Leave For Sydney

Northern Advocate, 18 April 1938, Page 9

Returned Men Leave For Sydney

“This is the best contingent I have served with,’’ remarked a member of the Empire Ex-Service Association as ho milled with his luggage through the Ixappy throng at the Whangarei Railway Station today. Pie was one of the 19 who joined the train at this point en route for Sydney, where they will sail by the Maunganui and Monowai for Sydney, to take part in the celebi'ations with Australian Diggers. The landing of the Anzacs will be repeated on Saturday morning, when the ships will berth within five minutes of the Sydney Post Office, and the New Zealand contingent, who- put the "N.Z." in “Anzac, - ’ will be welcomed. Those Who Joined.

Among those who joined the train in Whangarei this morning were Messrs A. H. Wylie, G. Rennie. J. Reynolds, J. A. Macleod, E. Wood, G. Bethell, A. McLeod, S. Lovatt, A. Matthews, N. Dickey, J. Slo-ane, J. A. Batchelor, A. McQueen, Mr and Mrs Dunfcrd and Sister M. Collins.

Already aboard were Messrs G. McKenzie, D. Bowers and Hurley (Kaikohe) and D. McMillan (Kawakawa). A special candage had been reserved for members of the contingent, who have been furnished with first class travelling warrants by the New Zealand Government. Messrs R. and W. Leslie and B. Cox (Maungaturoto) and E. and W. McKay and Alex RussolL (Waipu) entrained further down the line. As a representative of the Mangonui R.S.A., Mr W. Pai'ker (Kaitaia) passed through Whangarei on Thursday, and will link up with the main body in Auckland. Whangarei’s one lady representative is Sister Collins. Reunions.

Northland members of the contingent were looking forward with keen anticipation, not only to the trip and to the celebrations in Sydney, which will reach their height on Anzac Day, but also to renewing'' friendships of the trenches.

Many of the Whangarei men were travelling together for the first time since war days, and one of them, was overheard to say: “I see my cobber Blank, with whom I shared a dug-out for eight months in France, has got the seat next to me in the carriage.”

That' is the sort of reunion of which there will be thousands during the days ahead.