BACK FROM WAR

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24761, 8 December 1943, Page 2

BACK FROM WAR

PACIFIC SOLDIERS WOUNDED AND SICK Personal experiences in action against the Japanese were related by some members of a draft of 25 invalided soldiers from the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Pacific who returned to the Dominion recently. Some of the men took part in the fighting at Vella Lavella and Mono Islands and six were wounded in battle. Others who had been at New Caledonia and Guadalcanar are suffering from sickness or are accident cases. They are from all parts of New Zealand.

"Once we got them panicking the Japanese were bad shots, but they certainly are tough," said Private J. S. It. Gibson, of Makaraka, Gisborne, who was wounded by a machine-gun bullet during mopping-up operations in the rear of the Japanese on Vella Lavella. He added that he had heard from those wounded later that the Japanese in that position had been "cleaned-up" later in the afternoon. Help From Natives Private J. C. H. Callaghan, of Peria, Matamata, who was wounded in the arm during the same engagement, said that natives did wonderful work as guides, scouts, or assisting in patrols. They quickly returned with information. New Zealanders worked particularly well with the natives, who all iseemed to speak English. Their integrity was probably due to the influence of missionaries. " Philosophical about the loss of one eye, Private C. W. Grumble, of Invercargill, said he was struck by a machine-gun bullet in the landing during the New Zealanders' attack 011 Mono Island. He was among the first lot to land and was 50 yards up the beach, under the cover of fire from United States ships, when he was wounded. Other battle casualties in the draft were Lieutenant T. G. Holmes, ot Thames, Gunner F. Oxton, of Bolton Street, Avondale, and Private M. Clifford, of Napier. Japanese Trickery The generosity of the Americans fighting in the Pacific had made a lasting impression on the men. Nothing was too good for the New Zealanders, who were regarded as guests when travelling on American ships. One of the soldiers said he was walking barelooted around Guadalcanar when an American doctor insisted on giving him a pair of boots, which lie proudly displayed. ' Japanese trickery, especially at night, made the island warfare nerve-racking. The Japanese would lie near camps, find out soldiers' names, and call to them in good English. They were madly daring and actually stole a quantity of grenades from one camp. During the night they would hurl abuse and threats. Tribute to Hospital The happiest memories of their experience 111 the islands are those the men have of their treatment in the New Zealand hospital in New Caledonia. All said the nurses were wonderful and that the hospital food was the best, they had had in their Army life. Hie men were welcomed on their arrival by the Hon. B. Martin, M.L.C.. who extended the Government's thanks to the men, and bv civic authorities. Mr. Ma rtin said that, although they had come back wounded and sick, it was not hard to imagine what they had done to the "other fellow." Auckland members of the draft are: —Warrant-Officer E. P. Anderson (Takapuna). Private J. P. O. Carroll (Auckland). Private C. A. Lowe (Point Chevalier). Driver W. F. Mather (Mount Roskill). and Driver E W. Merrall (Sandringham).