A ROYAL WELCOME

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25214, 1 May 1943, Page 4

A ROYAL WELCOME

OFFICER’S EXPERIENCE ENTRY INTO TUNISIAN VILLAGE (N.Z.E.F. Official War Correspondent) NEAR ENFIDAVILLE, (Rec. 9.30 p.m.) Apl. 25. Among the many stories of the enthusiastic welcome circulating after the Eighth Army had penetrated to the Tunisian coastal plain, one of the best concerns a New Zealand officer, who, with his driver, was the first member of the Allied forces to enter a small coastal village north of Susa. Apparently the inhabitants had been anxiously waiting to welcome the British troops, but the main tide of the advance by-passed them. As the New Zealanders approached the village a car full of French civilians passed them. These civilians apparently gave warning of their approach, and when they arrived, to their consternation, they were confronted by hastily-assembled Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, dignitaries of the village, gendarmerie, and a very attractive bevy of bouquet-bearing demoiselles. Over the variegated but enthusiastic concourse British, American, and French flags were proudly displayed. . Strenuous efforts were immediately made to carry the embarrassed officer shoulder high through the streets, but, modestly declining the honour, he found that he was not absolved from taking the salute at a march past of the gendarmerie, while two, trumpets, apparently the only martial musical instruments in the village, sounded a joyous if unsubstantial fanfare. Although the officer declined the precious elevation, the driver accepted and was enthusiastically borne aloft . amid shouts of “ Vive l’Angleterre! ”