“TRUE, EVERY BIT OF IT”

Southland Times, Issue 24536, 10 September 1941, Page 6

“TRUE, EVERY BIT OF IT”

SPIRIT OF ENGLISH IN RAIDS RETURNED SOLDIER SPEAKS OF EXPERIENCES “Everything that has been said about the spirit of the people at home is true —every bit of it,” declared Private lan P. Foley, of Invercargill, who returned last week from Egypt after being invalided back to New Zealand. Private Foley spent seven months in Great Britain with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force and he was there when intensified bombing was being carried out by the Luftwaffe. He was in Liverpool when that city suffered most from the German bombers. “They’ were after the shipping in the Mersey canal and they were over the city for nine and 10 hours every night,” he said. . ( • The people, however, had continued throughout to show wonderful heroism. “I was there when the Germans attacked the Liverpool Cathedral, supposed to have been the biggest in the world,” he said. “They missed it that time by a street’s length, but I believe it is gone now.” He had also visited Wales and found that Northern Wales had been scarcely touched by enemy bombs. Private Foley had nothing but praise for the hospitality extended to New Zealand soldiers by the English people. Dominion soldiers had been well looked after and given a splendid time, while the hospitality received in Australia had been, if anything, even finer. New Zealanders had had opportunities of fraternizing with the “Tommies.” “Whenever we went into an inn we would find them there and they were pretty good fellows,” he said. There were also many Canadians in England and the spirit between them and New Zealand troops had also been good. HEALTH OF TROOPS Private Foley was 21 months in the Army, 16 months of which were spent overseas. During the Greek campaign he was wounded by shrapnel and later when sickness developed he was taken back to Egypt and afterwards spent some time in hospital and in a convalescence centre. The health of the troops as a whole appeared to be quite good, although it was noticeable that when a man did catch some illness he seemed to be more susceptible to others. The climate was naturally difficult in which to maintain good health. The incidence of sinus trouble appeared to be high. Every consideration was being shown men in hospital and the facilities at the Maadi base hospital were excellent. Private Foley praised the work of the wives of Englishmen at Maadi who had opened last year a canteen known as “Maadi Tent.” Sandwiches, . drinks, cakes and ice cream were available at a nominal price and the services of the women were much appreciated by the troops. Sandwiches and cakes could be bought for the equivalent of lid each. The Lowry Hut was another institution that was well patronized and much appreciated. PRISONERS OF WAR Confirmation of the opinion expressed by ffie Rev. Father Henley, of Invercargill, that there was no reason to suppose New Zealand prisoners of war would not receive fair treatment in German and Italian prison camps was expressed by this soldier. German and Italian prisoners had been well treated and it was expected that the enemy in turn would be equally benevolent to the British. Referring to the Crete campaign, he said he thought the general opinion among the New Zealanders was that it had been a mistake. “Those who returned felt it had been messed up,” he remarked. Veterans of the Great War who had fought in Crete had said that the fighting there was more severe than anything they had experienced in the last World War.

Signaller lan Mills, Lance-Bombardier H. McKechnie and Pay-Sergeant John Lockie were among the Invercargill men whom Private Foley left fit and well in Egypt. Pay-Sergeant Lockie had fought as a private in Greece and Crete and had been wounded, but had come out of his ordeal wonderfully well, he added.

MAORIS EXPRESS APPRECIATION IMPRESSIVE ARTICLE Appreciation of the excellent treatment received from the captain and the entire ship’s personnel is expressed by four Maori passengers in a short article printed aboard the Netherlands hospital ship Oranje. The article, which is impressively written, is headed “An Appreciation.” Tlie following is a portion of it:— “As Maoris we are compelled by a passion, which cannot be controlled, to confirm in writing our thanks and deep appreciation of the undivided care and attention received. Such kindness will forever linger down our pathway of happy memories—it will be broadcast throughout our pas so that our people may remember and rejoice with us. “Wars among nations are our heavy trials in life, and we are judged by the part we play and the side we take. You who are playing the part of the Good Samaritan will not be working in vain for in His time, the cross road of Crosses will eventually bloom into a flower of promise in that victory among allied nations will be our reward. The friendship showered upon us, irrespective of class, 001010" and creed, is the true spirit of sisterhood and brotherhood.

“Bidding you all Kia-ora—under the united interpretations of long life, God’s speed and happiness.” The article, under which are the names of the four Maoris, includes three stanzas conveying a similar theme.