FURTHER DRAFT RETURNS

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLXI, Issue 15177, 19 October 1942, Page 3

FURTHER DRAFT RETURNS

LARGE NUMBER OF SICK AND WOUNDED Electric Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON. Oct. 18. Reluctant to discuss their experiences, another large draft of sick and wounded men has arrived back in New Zealand from the Middle East where many of them had seen nearly three years’ campaigning. They included an officer of a parachute unit and a soldier who made his escape from enemy hands and crossed the Mediterranean in a submarine. Several nurses returned witii the draft after service in the Middle East. Welcomes were extended to the men by political and civic representatives. The Minister of Defence conveyed the thanks of the country to the men for the honour they had brought it and expressed the hope that those who suffered from serious disabilities would be able to overcome them. Hon. W. Perry, President of the N.Z.R.S.A.. said in his opinion they Lad more than worthily upheld th*' great traditions of Anzac. Ho hoped they would be able soon to resume their places in the civilian community for which they fought so nobly and so well. The medical officer in charge of the ship returned thanks for the tributes which had been paid to the work of the staff. He stated that when tho ship left Egypt, there were 177 cotcases and when it arrived, there wore only 06 cot-eases. There were 33 men who bad lost a limb and they were the most cheerful men on the ship.