BACK FROM WAR ZONE

Southland Times, Issue 24682, 2 March 1942, Page 4

BACK FROM WAR ZONE

SOUTHLAND SOLDIERS RETURN SPECIAL HOSPITAL TRAIN A special hospital train, carrying South Island soldiers who have been invalided home, arrived in Invercargill shortly after 9 o clock yesterday morning. The train, which left Lyttelton at 10 a.m. on Saturday comprised three hospital cars of 20 beds each and one firstclass carriage for next of kin. One hospital car was left at Dunedin. Each Red Cross car was staffed by a sister in charge and three V.A.D. nurses. Captain R. Borland, officer in charge of sick and wounded, Southern Military District, was in command. Dr Cresson, of the Christchurch hospital, travelled with the train and also Sergeant R. A. Berry, who is permanently in charge of the hospital train. Staff-sergeant R. G. Grieve accompanied the Area 12 quota. On arrival at Invercargill five members were taken by ambulance to Kew Hospital and the remainder were conveyed to their homes. Transport was under the control of the Women’s War Service Auxiliary and drivers were supplied by the Red Cross transport section and members of the W.W.b.A. At Gore three members were taken to the Gore hospital and the others to their homes. , A violent storm broke on the arrival of the train at the Invercargill station, driving rain making conditions unpleasant. Or. A. Wachner, DeputyMayor, was on the platform, and Mr J. D. Campbell, president of the Southland Centre of the Red Cross Society and Mr W. F. H. Stone, secretary of the Returned Services Association, were also present as well as relations of the men. Major H. M. Hopper represented the Army. TRIBUTE TO NURSES

Captain Borland said the trip had been uneventful and paid a tribute to the nurses who had done all possible for the comfort of the men. The train officials and the refreshment staffs had given wonderful service and at every station the transport arrangements ■were excellent

The names’of the men, the majority of whom saw service in Greece, Crete and Libya, and the stations at which they left the train, are as follows: — Milton.—Private M. Coombe. Clinton. —Private A. Hughes (Owaka). Gore. —Private M. Dwyer (Balfour), D. W. Kelly (Riversdale), J. G. Ward (Gore), A. Simpson (Kelso), and J. G. L. Lawrenson (Wendon Valley R.D.) Mataura. —Driver H. A. Price. Edendale.—Private D. C. McPhedran (Glenham). Invercargill.—Private W. H. H. Clarke (Oreti-Winton R.D.), Private J. W. Bell, Lance-Corporal G. F. Clarke, Private J. R. Roderique (Bluff), Private F. H. McEwan, Private W. Mitchell, Gunner J. Reid (Kapuka), Private B. E. Lamond, Sergeant E. R. Stephens, Private H. J. Harvey (Winton), Sergeant J. W. Fraser (Otahuti R.D.), Private J. L. Templer, Private W. McKenzie (Orepuki), and Corporal T. G. D. Goodger (Wyndham).

When the train arrived at Gore at 6 o’clock yesterday morning the men were met by the Mayor and Mayoress of Gore, Mr and Mrs W. D. Shelton, Mr G. L. Gerken, representing the Gore R.S.A., members of the Gore Red Cross Society and relations. The men detraining at Gore were supplied with clothing by the Red Cross members, who also supplied every man on the train with cigarettes and chocolate.