Kaikohe Lieutenant First Into Algiers

Northern Advocate, 29 June 1943, Page 4

Kaikohe Lieutenant First Into Algiers

(Special) DANNEVIR&E, Monday. Although the fame of the New Zealand troops is iworld-wide, an officer with the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the African campaign found that in Algiers he apparently was the first New Zealand soldier to be seen there. Born and educated in Dannevirke, being the eldest son of Mrs. W. Tonkin, Lieutenant Campbell V/ylie, who is well-known as a Kaikohe solicitor, was with the New Zealand Division in its advance into Tunisia. How he came to reach Algiers before any of his comrades, is related in a letter written from the locality of Tripoli. “While I was waiting near Tripoli on the way up,” he wrote, “I went to the big aerodrome near by to have a look around. The officer controlling the plane movements was talking to me and told me a plane we were ; watching was about to leave for Algiers with Lord Gort, Governor of Malta, on it. Sat Near Lord Gort “When the plane was due to leave the officer with me was telling the pilot that he must go without two passengers who had not turned up. He asked me if 1 Would care to go. Of course I did not hesitate. I had nothing to do in camp and expected to get back that evening. “I sat opposite Lord Gort, and he lent me a book to read. It was not possible to talk much. At one stage we went up to 14,000 feet to clear some clouds over snow-capped mountains. “When we got to Algiers we found that a load had to be taken back and by the time the plane had been loaded we could not get back in daylight, so we had an afternoon and a night in Algiers. It is a big city, and it was great to be among friendly people. The French were all bright and cheerful and had a smile for the soldiers. Interested in New Zealand “Needless to say, y they were keenly interested in a New Zealand soldier, not having seen any there. But quite a few did not knew of the existence of the most important country in the world Rather a blow to the pride of a Kiwi. “I had a bed—three-quarter size, with a nice soft mattress —for the first time for months and could not sleep well! We also had excellent meals. Coming back next morning I had the co-pilot’s seat and all messages from the navigator and the wireless operator had to be passed through me, so I had a very interesting trip. “I got back to camp to find I was being sought, as we were to move on. But when I went to apologise to the 0.C., all he was interested in was hciw to go about getting a trip to Algiers.”