THE SAME SHIP

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24605, 13 May 1941, Page 6

THE SAME SHIP

AJAX AND AUCKLAND TROOPS ENTRY AND WITHDRAWAL (N.Z.E.F. Official News Service.) CAIRO, May 10. At the Battle of the River Plate the Ajax and the Achilles established a bond of friendship born in adversity with ultimate success. The Ajax had an opportunity to renew acquaintance with New Zealanders when she found that she had the pleasant task of taking officers and men of the Auckland Battalion to Greece. The Navy soon made the New Zealanders comfortable, drinking toasts and telling stories. The battalion lived up to its reputation of making friends quickly and willingly. The Navy, down to the ship's cat. “ Horsey,” responded readily. After a short and memorable trip the cargo of wonderful fighting material was delivered. Off a Lonely Beach The Ajax reported back for new instructions, and about a month later was waiting off a lonely beach in Southern Greece on a dark and calm night which was by no means quiet, for the thunder and lightning in the hills beyond the horizon were the noises and flashes of battle. Our army, outnumbered more than 10 to 1 on the land, was subjected to unchecked and constant attack from the air and was falling back preparatory to embarking after carrying out the biggest and most successful raid on the Germans we have yet attempted. The Ajax had already heard it was to take off its old friends, the Auckland Battalion. Personal Equipment Discarded Officers and men were _ anxiously peering into the gloom, trying to see if anyone was on the beach. The arrangements were complete for embarking the men At last they appeared—the battalion forming the last organised rearguard. The Germans had received such a hiding that they left the New Zealanders alone. The Auckland Battalion went on board hungry and tired. They had only the clothes they stood up in because they had discarded their personal equipment in order to save their weapons. This principle was followed rigidly. A battalion clerk , came aboard with a duplicating machine strapped to his back. It had been given to the battalion out of patriotic funds. Food, clothing, and warm drinks soon made them comfortable, and old friends gathered to talk over new stories, with “ Horsey,” the cat, comfortably purring on a captured Nazi flag. Thus was enacted another among several episodes bearing out the complete harmony and understanding of all branches of the Imperial Forces in the Middle East.