INVALIDED HOME

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 4 December 1940, Page 9

INVALIDED HOME

DRAFT OF 65 MEN MEMBERS OF 2nd N.Z.E.F. fUnited Press Association] WELLINGTON, 3rd December. The topees worn by troops for protection against the Egyptian sun were seen again in Wellington this morning when 65 members of the 2nd N.Z.E.F. who have been invalided back from the Middle East returned to their own country after eleven months’ absence. They left Egypt with the 28 soldiers who reached New Zealand a few weeks ago, but the party was split up j in Bombay, and the 65 men who re- i turned to-day spent two months in , India, partly in hospital at Poona and partly in a rest camp. The men have been invalided back ; for various medical reasons bad i hearts, foot trouble, and so on —and most of them are still obviously a long way from fit. They were medically boarded this morning and will be recommended for discharge, a spell in hospital, or whatever treatment the medical authorities consider each case demands. Those who do not require immecjjate hospital treatment have been granted four weeks’ leave and transport to their homes. Interviewed upon arrival, most of the men expressed their delight at being back in New Zealand. “We have seen several parts of the world, but good old New Zealand will do me,” said one man. “This is a white man’s country, and the Wellington Heads this morning were the best sight I have seen since I left here.” This is the view of most o_' the men. Every man spoken to said he had no regrets about entering the Army. Several looked upon their breakdown in health as bad luck, and said they hoped to be given a chance to return to the war station with their mates. A large number of the men have had long terms in hospital, but most of them saw something of the forward positions at Mersa Matruh. “There were plenty of sand, heat and flies, to make conditions uncomfortable for us,” said one, “but our chief complaint is that the Italians did not have a go at us and give us something real to do.” Among those who returned was Pte. A. R. Nalder. A.S.C. (Murchison).