HOME AGAIN

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9174, 14 October 1915, Page 7

HOME AGAIN

BACK FROM THE FRONT ARRIVAL OF WOUNDED MEN BY THE MAITAI. Very few people awaited the arrival of the steamer Maitai, which reached Wellington from Sydney yesterday afternoon, although it was known that there wove a number of refurfling New Zealand soldiers on board. As the vessel was swung into her berth at the King’s wharf, a line of khaki-clad figures was seen leaning over the rails, but there was no spontaneous outburst of welcome extended to the returned warriors by the vary few people on the wharf; The men, on closer examination, appeared to be well tanned with the climate and hardships of a foreign land; but they were all smiles, and appeared to welcome ■ the sight of tho familiar shore which they left about twelve months before. Tho returning party consisted of 25 men under the command of Captain E. Gordon Fraser, of Auckland. The men, with the exception of two, have all seen active service, and a large percentage of them bear unmistakable traces of the great battles, which the New Zealand fend Australian forces have been through at the Dardanelles. The majority of them left the Dominion with the Main Expeditionary Force, the others having been members of the" Second Reinforcement Draft.

Several of the party have been seriously wounded, and will be unable to return to the firing line, although all of them expressed ‘ their wish to do so.

After the vessel had been granted pratique by the port health officer, the Mayor of Wellington (Mr J. P. Luke) went on board and extended a hearty welcome to the men, and freely conversed "with individual members of the party. The Mayor in particular took great interest in Sergeant E. H. Burnett, of the 12th Nelson Company of the Canterbury Battalion of the Main Expeditionary Force, who was severely wounded in the face at the great battle against the Turks at Quinn’s Post early in June. The Defence authorities also boarded’ the vessel; and each man received a certain amount of pay and steamer and train passes. ' Most of the men bear evidence ; of Turkish rifle or shrapnel fire, and they are justly proud that they have done “their little bit’’ for King and;-coun-try. The men, after being wounded at Gallipoli, were sent, to Malta; and there distributed in the various hospitals. They returned to Australia, a fortnight ago on:the steamer Ascahius, in company with 190 wounded and convalescent Australians. There are no hospital cases amongst _ the party who have - returned to Wellington, and after receiving their pay l and instructions from the authorities the 'men left the ship and will proceed to their homes in due course on extended, leave. As is usual.: those who i arc . not severely wounded and are fit for further duty will be called up again in due course. The following is a, list of' the-itien who arrived by the Maitai, showing.the districts in which they enlisted and also the places from which they came AUCKLAND DISTRICT. Captain E. Gordon Fraser, Auckland. Steff-Sergcaht-Major E. Purdon, Hamilton. . Private W. F. Soften, Kaituia, North Auckland. ~ ~ Private D. A. McGhee, Newcastle; New Stfuth Wales. .. . Private' W. E. Edwards, Waikmo. Private I. Parry, Pukoi. Auckland. Sapper J* Coyle, Auckland, Trooper J. HUnter, Nelson. WELLINGTON DISTRICT. Lance-Corporal W. Garth,'Newtown. Lance-Corporal F. O. Foster, Welling* ■ - .ton; Sapper C. Gudge, London. Private J. J.. Dunn, West Coast. Private F. Burgess, Fraakton Janction. ■ . Trooper W. C, Morgan, Wanganui. CANTERBURY DISTRICT. Lance-Corporal N. L. Taylor, Christchurch. ■ . : _. , . Lance-Corporal B. Aldridge, ■ Tinwaid. Private W. T. Bowis, Christchurch. Private P- W. O’Malley, Christchurch.

NELSON DISTRICT. Sergeant E. W. Burnett, Nelson. Private A. B. Crombie, Blenheim. Private-A. Gridley, Blenheim. - OTAGO DISTRICT.

Corporal F. J. -Wall, Hampstead, ; Lon- ■ don. N.W. ' Private C. S. Fraser, Dunedin. Sapper F. Daubney, Invercargill. Private C. A. Little. , Private W. McKee.,