BACK FROM EGYPT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24594, 30 April 1941, Page 11

BACK FROM EGYPT

NEW ZEALANDERS IN SYDNEY j ACTION AND SICKNESS CASES ( (Air Mail) SYDNEY, Apl. 16. f Eagerly looking forward to the last stage of their long journey, 49 soldiers of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force are waiting in Sydney to be sent home. Four of them were 11 officially ” in action, the remainder being sickness cases. They arrived in Sydney last Saturday bv hospital ship with over 100 Australians who were, wounded in the Libyan campaign. They were immediately transferred to various military hospitals, where they will remain until arrangements have been made to tranship them to New Zealand by passenger boats. The more serious cases will be detained for further treatment, but many of them were well enough to obtain leave to inspect the city. “ Hell-fire Pass ” One of those who saw action is a sergeant from Christchurch attached to the 2nd Division Supply Column. He is suffering from shell shock as a result of having thrice been blown up in a motor truck and twice while riding a motor cycle. Preferring not to disclose his name, he said that the New Zealand transport units were used to keep supplies of ammunition, petrol, and food up to the British and Australian troops during the attack on Libya. “ You probably heard of ‘ Hell-fire Pass,’ ” he said. “ Well, it was well named. ■ I ran the gauntlet three times, and the Italians bombed the place incessantly. Luckily, they bombed from a height of about 25,000 feet, and their aim was poor, but it was bad enough.” Private G. Esau, of the 25th Battalion, Wellington, may not see his home at Palmerston North for months, but he is quite contented in the new Yaralla Military Hospital. He is one of 22 New Zealanders. 12 of whom belong. to his battalion, who contracted infantile paralysis. He lost the use of his arms and legs, but now has the use of his arms. He will remain to receive special massage treatment, and is hopeful. of a complete recovery. “I was twice rejected in New Zealand, and when I reached Egypt I was laid- up for a while with poisoned hands,” he said. “Actually, I was on duty there only for seven weeks, and then contracted paralysis. I was treated at first for a cold and then sent to the base hospital with ‘ influenza ’ until the disease was diagnosed. I missed the fighting, and it was hard to leave knowing that the boys were preparing for some stunt, which turned out to be the Greek campaign. Still, I would not have missed the experience. We were guarding Italian prisoners, and were bombed three times. The bombs did not get near us, but it was not pleasant.” Pro-British Italians Private Esau said that he had come to know the Italians fairly well. Ninety-nine out of a hundred were actually pro-British, but the odd one was a rabid Fascist. They hated to hear that the Germans had gone into Italy. One of the prisoners was in ms ward at the base hospital, and tended him. He was more gentle than a woman, said Esau. The Australians did a good job 1 in Libya, ’ he said, “ and those who were on the hospital ship with us kept wonderful spirits. The Australian nurses both on the ship and in hospital here are great, too. They seem so bright—not that New Zealand nurses suffered by comparison.” Esau has complete faith in the treathe is receiving and the hospital i facilities.