WOUNDED MEN

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25047, 10 November 1944, Page 4

WOUNDED MEN

, MIDDLE EAST DRAFT RETURN TO DOMINION WELCOME IN WELLINGTON (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Thursday Bearing up cheerily under hard knocks received in battle, a recently-returned draft of wounded from the New Zealand Division in the Middle East included men who had been right through to the hard fighting at Florence and Rimini, in Northern Italy. Relatives and friends received them enthusiastically as they came ashore from a hospital ship and they were accorded an official reception in the clearing station. Still a Tough Enemy The men admitted that the Germans were still a tough enemy. As they were pressed hack through Italy the Germans had the advantage of knowing the country and places where they could put up resistance most effectively. Instances of this were the hard lighting at Florence and Rimini. The news since these returned men left the battle zone indicated that the weather was still proving a handicap. However, there was a feeling of confidence that enemy resistance would he smashed there as it had been in numerous stands made earlier in the .Middle East campaign. The returning men included some who had experiences as prisoners of war and had escaped. One man who was farewelled by his family only'seven months ago had been twice wounded during his brief period on active service. Navy personnel, nurses and waacs were among those who returned. The Country's Gratitude The Prime .Minister, Mr Eraser, being slightly indisposed, was unable to ntI tend the official reception and the Minister of Finance, Mr Nash, extended a I welcome to the draft on his behalf. |Mr Nash advised the men to be sure I to get into contact with rehabilitation officials. He said there were arnlnge- | rnents for every man who came back to be given the care he needed. The Gov- | eminent and the country wore very thankful for what the men had done and hoped they would soon recover from their disabilities and be able to settle down again to normal life. The Returned Services Association representative, Mr Leadley, told the men that in New Zealand today they had the best pension scale in the British Empire and the best rehabilitation scheme among the United Nations. A list of the names of the Auckland i men who returned is on page 7. FLYING CROSS THREE MORE AWARDS AUCKLANDER INCLUDED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Thursday It is officially announced that the following three New Zealand airmen have been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for service in the European war theatre: — Wing-Commander J. D. Nelson, of Wellington; Flying-Officer G. A. H. Field, of Wellington; and acting-Flv-ing-Officer D. H. Strachan. son of Mrs A. Strachan. of Auckland. HONOURS BESTOWED LONDON INVESTITURE NEW ZEALAND DECORATIONS LONDON, Nov. 8 New Zealanders representing the three Services and a nursing sister received decorations from the King at a recent investiture at Buckingham Palace. Awards were made as follows: Distinguished Service Order.—Brigadier J. Twhigg. Wellington; Colonel L. F. TJudd, Auckland; Captain the Rev. H. G. Taylor. Kaitaia. Order of the British Empire.— Colonel F. Waite, Balelutha. Military Cross.—Lieutenant - Colonel A. C. Trousdale, Auckland; Major J. Matehaere, Tirau; Captain F. W. Wilson and Lieutenant H. B. Hay, C'hristchurch. Distinguished Flying Cross.—Squad-ron-Leader B. G. Wallace. Tnvercargill; Flight-Lieutenants J. C. Parker, Motueka; B. G. Johnston, Port Chalmers; S. A. H. Short, Paeroa; Flyirig-Officers P. W. W. Brunton and .T. R. Hood. Distinguished Service Cross. —Lieutenant W. C. Drake, Wellington; Lieutenant M. L. Newman, C'hristchurch. Associate of the Royal Red Cross.— Sister N. K. Murray, Tirau. The recipients attended a luncheon at the New Zealand Forces Club after the investiture, those present including the High Commissioner. Mr W. .T. Jordan, and .Mrs Jordan, and Brigadier ,T. T Burrows. D.5.0., of Christchurch. Sister Murray won her decoration as a recognition of her services with a casualty clearing station which worked in forward areas with the New Zealand Division all the way from El Alamein to Enfidaville, Tunisia. She is one of eight sisters at the station, three of whom were decorated, the others being Miss V Hodges, of Dunedin, who is now matron of No. 2 Hospital in Italy, and Sister J. Morton, of Auckland, who has returned to New Zealand. Tho King was interested to learn where Sister Murray won her decoration and thanked her for her services. S Chaplain Taylor was awarded the I D.S.O. for attending wounded in a forj ward area in Tunisia. HAMILTON TRAFFIC ! CRITICISM OF CONTROL (0.c.) ( HAMILTON, Thursday The Transport Committee's recommendation that, in view of the criticism regarding the operation and control of traffic in the Hamilton borough, the chief traffic inspector, Mr W. E. Nicholson, be requested to bring down a report dealing with the work of the department was adopted by the Borough Council last night. It was also recommended that tlie inspector be asked to confer with the Automobile Association and report back to the committee, and that, as an experiment, he should arrange with the association for the use of loud-speakers to regulate traffic at pedestrian crossings. Mr W. W. Dillicar, chairman of the Transport Committee, stated that a conference had been held by all the bodies concerned with traffic problems in Hamilton, including the Automobile Association and a bus company. As a result these organisations had decided to form themselves into a Road Safety Committee for the purpose of holding a road safety week in Hamilton as soon as possible. It was pointed out by Mr A. J. Denz that the worst feature of the local traffic problem was that, because it was feared that people who came to Hamilton to shop might go elsewhere if they were prosecuted, the traffic department had been instructed by a previous council not to take any action against infringement of the traffic by-laws. The Mayor, Mr H. D. Caro, said that this was not altogether correct. The traffic inspector had been requested to use his discretion to a wide extent in making any prosecutions. 1 SHIPS AT GREYMOUTH (0.C.) GREVMOUTH, Thursday When the Poolta was ready to sail for the North Island early this mornifl'g a member of the crew was not on board and tho ship was unable to leave. Her sailing is uncertain. After making an exceptionally fast passage from a northern port the Kaimiro arrived this morning instead of this evening and commenced loading: coal. The Karu has been further delayed i and should sail tomorrow.