BACK FROM THE DESERT

Southland Times, Issue 24764, 8 June 1942, Page 4

BACK FROM THE DESERT

FIVE SOUTHLANDERS RETURN Five sick and wounded Southland soldiers returned to Invercargill by the express on Saturday night. All were walking cases. They were given a warm welcome by the Deputy-Mayor (Mr A. Wachner) and a good assemblage of citizens, including relations of the men and representatives of the Southland Patriotic Council, the Invercargill sub-centre of the Red Cross Society and the Invercargill Returned Soldiers’ Association. After a brief speech of welcome by the Deputy-Mayor, the men were taken to their homes in cars provided by the Transport Section of the Red Cross Society. Those who returned were: Gunner R. Wixon, M.M., of Colac Bay; Sergeant G. R. Dickson, of Invercargill; Sapper D. Kelleher, of Makarewa; Private J. W. McMechan, of Lady Barkly; and Sapper O. Clapp, of Invercargill. Other Southlanders among those who returned to New Zealand last week are Private C. R. Buchanan, of Invercargill, Signalman J. Garrick, of Gore, Sapper R. W. Baldwin, cf Woodlands, and Lieutenant C. L. Stubbs, all of whom are expected to come south this week, Sapper C. W. Byron, of Invercargill, who went into hospital at Wellington, and Gunner J. A. Webber, of Stewart Island, who went into hospital at Dunedin. , , Captain R. Borland, O.C. sick and wounded, Southern Military District, was in charge of the party, and associated with him were Sergeant-Major R. G. Grieve, officer-in-charge Southland sick and wounded, who met the men at Wellington, Sister Cordery, of Christchurch, and V.A.D. Orchard. The men travelled from Lyttelton in a special car attached to the express. All of them will receive out-patient treatment at the Southland Hospital. THIRTEEN WOUNDS

A special round of cheers was given for Gunner Wixon, a Maori, who was awarded the Military Medal for conspicuous gallantry in the Battle of Sidi Rezegh. He was quickly claimed by his relations and a group of admiring Maoris, one of whom broke into song with a Maori welcome, “Haeremai, Haeremai.” As he stepped on to the platform, Gunner Wixon looked anything but the determined warrior who held up single-handed a section of a German tank onslaught. He was wounded in 13 parts of the body when he was put out of action by shrapnel from a shellburst, but beyond walking with a noticeable limp and carrying a stick for support, he showed few outward signs of the heat of battle. On the contrary his fresh complexion betokened a hardy constitution which has enabled him* to make a slow but good recovery. Gunner Wixon’s worst wounds were in the legs and a shoulder. He went through the campaign in Greece without getting as much as a scratch and he saw little of the fighting in Crete. One of a batch of New Zealanders who were taken to Crete after the evacuation from Greece, he remained only long enough to say he had been in and out of the island. At the time of their landing the German aerial bombardment was at its height, and they were among the lucky ones to be taken off the island and back to Egypt. SIX TANKS DESTROYED

As a member of an anti-tank unit Gunner Wixon took part in the Libyan campaign which was productive of so much heavy fighting and losses in November and December last year. Heavy artillery played a big part in the fighting around the Sidi RezeghBel Hamid-El Duda Sector, and it was during a furious tank and artillery battle in Bel Hamid that he was wounded. After some devilish fighting, much of it at close quarters, he took charge of a “two-pounder” gun and blazed away at the enemy tanks until he was knocked out by a shell of heavy calibre. He was credited with the destruction of six German tanks. He was then taken to hospital and remained there for about six months. Before enlisting at the age of 19 Gunner Wixon was engaged as a fisherman. He was bom at Colac Bay and is the son of Mr J. Wixon, of Waitane, and a grandson of Mrs Te Au, senior, of Colac Bay. He went overseas with the 2nd Echelon. Soon after his arrival on Saturday night he was taken to his home at Colac Bay. Of the others who returned last night Private McMechan was the only one showing injury to a limb. He was wounded in the right arm and the limb was supported by a sling. The others were suffering from injuries or sickness.