J Force Men At Wellington

Northern Advocate, 27 August 1947, Page 5

J Force Men At Wellington

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The transport Dunera berthed at Aotea Quay shortly after 9 a.m. to commence the disembarkation of 1481 officers and men and nursing sisters of J Force. Those on board served their 12 months in Japan. An official party, including the Minister of Defence (Mr Jones) and the Minister of Rehabilitation (Mr Skinner) boarded the Dunera from the tug Terawhiti at about 7.35 a.m. and were welcomed by the men lining the rails of the ship. The two Ministers gave addresses of welcome. The soldiers cheered everybody and everything as the Dunera berthed between the aircraft-carrier Theseus and the destroyer Cockade. The trip from Japan was reported to have been a pleasant one, with good food and living conditions, and plenty of entertainment. The highlight of the voyage was a visit to Suva, where the troops got an hour's leave. The only complaint from the men was lack of leave in Japan. Some said they had had no leave for the entire 12 months in Japan. On the medical side the doctors were more than pleased with the health of the troops. Previous complaints about living conditions were not borne out by ihe men in today’s draft. They said this had greatly improved in the last 12 months. Arrangements were made to transport North Island men to trains or buses today. South Island men travel by boat to Nelson, Picton and Lyttelton this afternoon and tonight.