Welcome Honours To Servicemen On Furlough

Northern Advocate, 23 July 1943, Page 4

Welcome Honours To Servicemen On Furlough

Swinging along with the justifiably proud bearing of a soldier wearing the shoulder badges of New Zealand, Whangarei and district men who have returned from the Middle East on special furlough made their first march in Whangarei today when the town held special functions to honour them. Led by the Municipal Band and Major-General A. S. Wilder, the servicemen marched through the main streets to the Town Hall, where a civic reception was held. Business people had co-operated by closing their premises for an hour and the streets were lined with applauding and cheering citizens and boys and girls. The men themselves marched proudly, but it was the citizens who felt a thrill of pride as the soldiers who had acquitted themselves so nobly overseas were accorded the honours they richly deserved. High School Cadets were drawn up along the route as a guard of honour and the Municipal Band made an appropriate choice of marching music, playing “We are the Boys from Way Down Under" for the march to the Town Hall and the soldiers’ old favourite, “Colonel Bogey," fer the march from the hall to the hut where the civic luncheon which followed was held. Civic Welcome The Town Hall was packed for the civic reception and in the midst ol the floral decorations, the bunting and the crowd the servicemen were given ample proof, if that had. been so far lacking, of the warmth in the hearts of the people at the arrival home of the first fighting representatives of the Dominion overseas. As the official party took its position the crowd rose for the playing of “God Defend New Zealand." ‘The honour you pay to our guests by your great reception and by this large audience moves me profoundly," stated the Mayor (Mr .Tones) in his address. “T am glad to stand here and. on your behalf, say ‘welcome homo for a richly deserved rest in the Dominion. "The warmth of the welcome the soldiers had received made any words superfluous and all that would he in the minds of most of (he peonlo was to see that they are given every opportunity' to have a thoroughly enjoyable period of leave. Every effort would be made to this end by every New Zealander worthy of (he name.

"We are glad, we are proud.” he eontinned, "wo are glad not merely because of the stupendous heights which our great New Zealand Division lias achieved but. we rejoice Hint our division in the Middle East has been closely and, very closely associated with the great feats and accomplishments of tin- famous Eighth Army, with the colourful personality of its efficient and inspiring leader. General Sir Bernard Mojdgom tv, and of which mir own kith and kin wee such a distinguished unit." New Army. Now Veteran "Our army was a new army, but today they are becoming veterans, and 1 am convinced as 1 ever was of ultimate victory if the nation proves .as steady, as valorous, as ready to sacrifice, and as ready to learn and to endure as that great army of our sons all over the world, the New Zealand soldiers, sailors and airmen, and servicewomen, fn practically every sphere of the war activity. "This is not a day to cdebrale for its own sake. What we shall he glad to celebrate will he the day of victory, and its anniversary for ever after, but. belore we achieve victory, it is fit that we meet at times such as this, to fortify our purpose, if it', needs fortifying, to pledge ourselves that the brave men who have died shall not have died in vain and to re-nsserl our purpose to finish this task, for what would the future of the human race be worth if the deliberate and calculated uaroarism of our enemies overran the world ? “We are all rather anxious that your arduous training of the past three and a half years, and your hard won battle experience, both of which have welded you into troops unsurpassed by any others in the world will not be dissipated bv sending you to any other place than the one most of you overwhelmingly desire —the place that will give you an even chance of marching' through the streets of Berlin." Test In The Future The Mayor said he was truly fdled with gratitude at being in the happy position of speaking on behalf of the people of the borough. He still thought, of the difficulties that lay ahead, which were going m test all the nations fighting tor liberty far more than they have been tested in the past, and he hoped and prayed that, they might nil have the clearness of vision and purpose and especially that strength of soul in the coming days, which would be more necessary titan* strength of arm. It would depend largely upon the people whether tltP great prize was achieved now In the struggle, or whether the world would lie doomed to long weary waiting in the future. .. ••The prize is within our grasp if we have the strength, especially the strength of soul tii see this tiling through without getting tired of waiting, until victory crowns the efforts ol our brave men and women in the field, on the sea: and in the air,” he concluded. “Welcome, a thousand times welcome home."

R.S.A. Welcome The president of the Whangarei Returned Services Association (Mr. R. A. Rogers) said the association was proud to 30m in the welcome and congratulated them on their return. He invited all ex-service-men and ex-servicewomen to join the association, which had the sympathy and knowledge of 25 years’ experience m helping the returned men, to whom that assistance would be extended as it had been to those who had returned from the last war. Increases in pensions and allowances had been due not only to the association but to the Next-of-Kin Association and to the Second N.Z.E.F. Association. The Whangarei association supported the view of the Oamaru association in its belief that the men now returned should remain and others should take their place overseas, but many of the ex-servicemen would like to again go overseas and they should be given that opportunity if they so desired. . ~ On behalf of the patriotic organisation Mrs A M. Woods moke of the way the people had shared the sorrows and triumphs of the men overseas. She drew attention to the manner in which the people from the eldest to the youngest were doing their share in the war effort. Those working at home look consolation in the thought that “they also serve who only stand and wait.” For the Maori race, Mr. P. Whareumu. whose speech was interpreted by Lieutenant Wellington, said that he welcomed all, both pakeha and Maori. When they left the Dominion they had gone to defend their country and now they had returned to their homes. He welcomed them while at the same time he paid tribute to those who had fallen. In conclusion he gave the message: “Fear God and Honour the King. Welcome, Welcome, Welcome.”* 'ln renly Major J. H. Garland said any words of his would be inadequate to describe the feelings of the men on returning home and the welcome extended to. them. The work of the patriotic organisations had been greatly appreciated and had done much to ease the life of the men overseas. The work of the Maori soldier was legend, while he paid a special tribute to the work of the women serving overseas. Staff-Sergeant Davidson, who also replied, said the returned men had been overwhelmed by the sincerity 01 their welcome and had made anything they had dene worth while. Many of them had been in many countries, but none could compare with New Zealand. The work of the patriotic organisations and women overseas was greatly appreciated. he said, concluding by saying that soldiers remaining in New Zealand to combat the Japanese would have performed equally as well as those overseas if they had been required to do so. “What a great dav it will be when they all come home,” said Mr. R. G. HoSking, who led the singing of “For They Are Jollv Good Fellows.” which was followed bv cheers, “Pack Up Your Troubles” and “God Save the King.”

Civic Luncheon At the conclusion of the civic reception the returned soldiers were entertained at lunch at the Servicemen’s Hut by the Mavor and councillors, with the assistance of members of the Women's Patriotic Activities Sub-Committee. . ... A goodly spread arranged on the Jong tables greeted the men as tney entered the hall and at the invitation of the Mayor thev did full justice to the provisions, which formed contrast with the rations to

which they had become accustomed in the Middle East. . , Staff-Sergeant Davidson apologised to the Mayor for an omission when speaking at the civic function. This was vocal appreciation of the welcome extended to the returned men and. at his call, the soldiers gave three cheers for the people of Whangarei. World-wide Reputation Proposing the toast of returned servicemen and servicewomen, the deputyMayor (Mr. D. L. Smedley) said that when the early echelons left New Zealand a soldier of the last war had expressed to him the opinion that the young men would not be able to stand tip to warfare as had the men of an earlier generation. He had replied in the words of Mr. Asquith: "Wait and see.” The young men had proved themselves before the world and had earned the respect of tneir enemies. “The Second N.Z.E.F. has established a reputation as a fighting force second to none and they have upheld the traditions of the First Expeditionary Force,” said Mr. Smedley. “The exploits of the Second N.Z.E.F. in battle and off parade have been of the highest standard and New Zealand soldiers are assured of a welcome auvwhere they happen to he." The men had earned their furlough after years of hard fighting which included subjection to intense bombing from the air, something the soldiers of the last war had not had to endure, he concluded, expressing the opinion that, tile welcome extended had shown (hem the pride of the people in them and the gladness at their return.

Comradeship In Service In reply Major-General Wilder thanked the Mayor for' the reception accorded the returned men and also for including those soldiers who had returned to New Zealand before tile first draft o_n furlough. He was also particularly pleased at the presence at the luncheon of a representative of the nursing services, Sister I. Healey, cf Maungaturoto. The nursing services had dene wonderful work which was fully appreciated by the men. War had brought to many people inevitable loss—a loss which was felt by the soldiers who had lost good comrades and gcod friends, and to the nexl-ol'-kin their sincere sympathy was extended. , , Service overseas bred good comradeship and good fellowship and returned men would find the greatest pleasure, as h e had done, in attending reunions of their comrades at arms. The luncheon concluded with a toast with musical honours to the women who had worked so hard in preparing and serving luncheon.