WAITING CROWDS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25276, 13 July 1943, Page 4

WAITING CROWDS

SCENE AT WHARF GATES WELL-KNOWN MEN RETURN (P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 12. When it became known that the troops had afrived crowds began to collect on the waterfront, and more and more joined the waiting throng as the tim'd for the first of the men to come ashore drew near. It was an impatient crowd. About 9.30 a.m. the main iron gates of the wharf were temporarily opened, and a rush started. The constables inside threw their weight against the gate, while the press continued from -the outside. Several women fell, and others were jammed dangerously against the ironwork. . Fortunately, no one was badly hurt, although one woman was trampled somewhat, and a child was rescued from the crush just in time. Many Happy Scenes At 11 o'clock the waiting ended, and there were many happy scenes as the men filed off the ship and met their relatives; and friends at the gates. Expressions of delight at being home again were general, but some qualified their satisfaction. “ It’s very nice to be back again,” a private from Dunedin said, “even if you don’t arrange the weather better, but I feel sorry for some of the men who didn’t come with us. A man makes some great friends in the army, and he doesn’t like to see them left, but I suppose their turn will come. I hope it does.” When he was asked how he felt about going back, he replied: “I will be going back all right. You can’t keep me out of it, and plenty of my pals on board here feel the same way about it.” This attitude was confirmed by others, and an officer said that several of the men had spoken to him about that aspect before they left. Among the men were many well known throughout New Zealand, including Lieutenant Keith Elliott, the 27-year-old farmer, of Mangamaire, near Pahiatua, who won the Victoria Cross at Ruweisat on July 15 of last year. Lieutenant Elliott showed the modesty characteristic of the majority of V.C.' winners. He met a request for an account of his exploits with a smile and a shake of his head, and the only comment he made was that he was glad to be back in New Zealand. Bishop Gerard Returns Another who ,is particularly well known to New Zealanders was Lieu-tenant-colonel (Bishop) Gerardf who was a prisoner of war in Italy from December, 1941, to April, 1943. He spent periods in nine different camps, where, he said, all managed to make, the best of things. The food was mainly of the cereal type with rice and macaroni predominating. The officers .received six ounces of bread a day and the soldiers’ rations varied according to the work they were doing. A little could be purchased from the canteens, but chocolate which would cost sixpence in New Zealand cost at least 3s. Figs were popular during the first season, but after that they were rationed. Bishop Gerard praised the way the representatives of the churches and the Vatican did wha.t they could to improve the lot of prisoners. He added that the repatriation of prisoners was entirely a matter for the detaining country to decide, but there had been suggestions that there might be more frequent exchanges. There were many well-known sportsmen in the draft, including Captain Dr-Parsons, who was captain of the main New Zealand Rugby team in the Middle Ejast, Captain E. W. Tindill, the Wellington and New Zealand Rugby and cricket representative, Staff Sergeant G. Wales, a Wellington Rugby, representative, who was in the main fifteen in the Middle East, and Lieutenant-colonel J. T. Burrows, the former All Black. The football in the Middle East was first class, Colonel Burrows said. The most outstanding play had been among the forwards, and the teams had got right back to real New Zealand forward play again. All ranks paid glowing tributes to the leadership of General Sir Bernard Montgomery, and said tljpy would go anywhere with him. The pakeha soldiers also had warm praise for their Maori comrades. “They are marvellous soldiers,” one said. The Maori casualties had been heavy, but that was only to be expected in the fighting they had undertaken. Three Classes of Germans The comment was made that, the morale of the Italians was very low, and at the finish in Tunisia the Germans were also glad to get out of it. One lieutenant, who served as a guerrilla in Greece, said the Germans fell into, three classes, as follows: First, the young Germans, who were sadistic and fanatically devoted to Hitler; secondly, the front-line troops, “ who were not bad fellows, and respected us as opDonents,” and, thirdly, the older men. who were quiet and had no use for war. Individually, the Germans were decent, but when they had an audience they could not be trusted.