BACK IN N.Z.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 10 March 1943, Page 2

BACK IN N.Z.

300 INVALIDED SOLDIERS WARM WELCOME ON ARRIVAL FIRST HAND STORIES OF EL ALAMEIN Wellington, This Day A number of them having completed three yearn’ service in the Middle East, a contingent of 300 Invalided New Zealand soldiers recently returned home and were given a warm welcome on arrival in Wellington. They were most familiar with the El Alamein front a&d brought back first hand stories of the terrific artillery barrage thatpreceded the Eighth Army’s historic advance.

“We gave Rommel’s troops a terrible battering,” said an artillery sergeant. “We had 1000 field guns In action at once for two spells of four hours, and the hard desert \yas literally pounded to dust. Over a tremendous area our shell holes were only a few yards apart. A German officer who was captured said they never expected anything like it. Nothing could stand against it,”

The sergeant added that the Germans put up some big artillery barrages in their attack in an effort to break through, and used a lot of British 25pounders and ammunition captured at TobruV Some of the shells were damaged and refused to explode. Mr Fraser, the Prime Minister, presided over an official welcome to the soldiers, all of whom are walking wounded, and on behalf of the Government ana people he expressed his heartfelt gratitude to them for the wonderful job they had done. “Our thanks to you can never be thoroughly expressed,” he said, “but we say thank you from the bottom of our hearts.” Mr Fraser impressed on them all the importance of being properly boarded and having full records taken of their condition before they left for thei r homes. “I urge you to carry the in • structions out to the letter, so there can be no arguments afterwards. It may save years of misery/* On behalf of the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Forbes, added his appreciation. He said: “When it came to what they would do for the returned men there was no Government and no Opposition. They were all one in the desire to do their very best for the soldiers. I know that measures in hand at the present time will do a very great deal towards making your burdens lighter,” said Mr Forbes. Other speakers were the Hon. W. Perry, M.L.C., on behalf of the R.S.A.. Mr Price, chairman of the Harbour Board, Col. Baker on behalf of the Maoris, and a representative of the ship that brought the men back. — P.A