VISIT TO WOUNDED

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24631, 9 July 1943, Page 4

VISIT TO WOUNDED

TRIBUTE TO COMMANDER A SURPRISE PRESENTATION <S.R.) ROTORUA, Thursday An unexpected . presentation was made to-day to Lieutenant-General Sir Bernard Freyberg, V.C., bv returned soldiers of the Second N.Z.E.F. in the Middle East, who are now patients at the Rotorua Convalescent Hospital. Taking him completely by surprise, they gave him a stick made from inlaid New Zealand woods, and for Lady Freyberg a powder howl of mixed New Zealand woods, with the inside mirror shaped into the star of Africa. When he was thanking the men for their gifts. General Freyberg said that he had never been more moved in his life and he and Ladv Freyberg would treasure the two articles for the rest of their lives. Regimental Sergeant-Major M. J. Eagles, of Wellington, made the presentation. He expressed the patent pleasure of the men at General Freyherg's visit and toid him how much his soldiers owed to him and how they would go anywhere with him. After thanking the men for their gifts, General Freyberg said he had been particularly satisfied to find during his tour that the hospitals built for returned servicemen were of such a high standard and were so competently staffed. "There are no better hospitals in the world than T have found in New Zealand," he said, "and it gives me much satisfaction to be able to return to the Middle East knowing this." Speaking briefly of the Division, General Freyberg said that during its res! in Mnndi base camp leave had been given to the men to go to various centres. When be returned to Egypt he would he going hack to a Division which ho sincerely believed wns the best-equipped in the world. £l7B GAMBLED AWAY MONEY STOLEN FROM HOUSE (0.C.) WAXOAXUI, Thursday How a returned .soldier from the present war, Kenneth .lory Reeves, aged 24, entered a dwelling in Wanganui and stole £l7B, most of which he lost in a gambling school in Wellington, was told before Mr. .T. H. Salmon, S.M., to-day, when Reeves admitted a charge of breaking and entering and theft. He was committed to the Supreme Court at Wellington for sentence. Reeves was arrested in Wellington by Detective Waller, and in a statement to the police he .said he was drunk when he broke a window in a house and stole the conteuis of a wallet in a bedroom drawer. lie hired a taxi early next morning and went to Marion, where he boarded the Auckland-Well-ington express. Soon alter his arrival at Wellington he went to a gambling school and won .Cot), but next night lie lost all his winnings and most of the money he had stolen in Wanganui. He subsequently obtained employment in a billiard saloon.