LAST TROOPS FROM EGYPT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17263, 12 September 1919, Page 7

LAST TROOPS FROM EGYPT.

DRAFT ON THE ELLENGA.

AUCKLAND QUOTA LANDED.

SEVERAL LONG RECORDS

MEMBERS OF MAIN BODY,

The transport Ellenga, with the final | ( draft of troops from Egypt, which reached ' . port on Wednesday evening, -was declared : a clean ship by the health authorities ' . and the Auckland, Gieborne, and Tara- j na.ki men disembarked by ferry steamer . at 11.30 a.m. yesterday. As the little : vessel, which was crowded with khaki figures, neared the wharf the ships in . port sounded their hooters and whistles, and the large crowd that had gathered : on the end of the wharf cheered a little I more freely than usual. The transport | was visited by the Deputy- Mr. i A. J. Enirican, and Colonel H. R. rotter, j officer commanding the district, who form- . allr welcomed the draft. In the wharf shed the men received refreshments pro vided by the Women's Patriotic League, and afterwards motor-car-* took the. luoai

men to their homes. j The voyage from Suez occupied seven j weeks, there being % week's delay at ■ Newcastle. The voyage was a fairly I pleasant one. although the heat when j going through the Red Sea was intense, I and heavy weather was experienced after j leaving Colombo. The troops were iiber j ailv entertained at Colombo, where aspecial train took them to Kandy, and at I Newcastle and Sydney. The only New j Zealanders now in Egypt are Lieutenant - Colonel D. Chaytor and six men, who are ! putting the final touches on the work of headquarters. Lieutenant-Colonel E. J<. Hulbert. of WeUineton. was in command of the dr?,ft. He left New Zealand with the Main Body as a lieutenant in the signal troop of the Mounted Rifles Brigade. He has been back once since then. Major T. Haeata, of Pukekohe, who has arrived, is also a Main Body officer, having left as a second lieutenant in the 3rd, Auckland, Mounted Rifles. He served with distinction on Gallipoli and throughcut the Palestine campaign. Major Haeata las one of the longest service records in the Expeditionary Force. Major R. W. Colbeck, of Epsom, served throughout the Palestine campaign and was wounded at Rafa and at Anurias. Captain T. McCarroll was a- corporal in the Auckland Mounted rifles. Main Body. He returned to New Zealand on duty furlough some time ago. He is a brother of Lieut.-Col. J. McCarroll. Captain J. C. Self, of Te Kniti, is another officer who left as a trooper in the Main Body.

At four o'clock Che Ellenga sailed for Wellington with the Southern men. A number of cases from Auckland hospitals also left by the*-vessei. It had been intended that all the men for Taranaki would leave for New Plymouth by the Rarawa to-day, but as this vessel has missed a trip this week there is accommodation on her for only 40 men. Arrangements have accordingly beer, made for the Aupouri to carry the remainder, who total 68. The Aupouri will leave Onehunga at noon to-day.