WELCOME FOR N.Z. SOLDIERS

Southland Times, Issue 25538, 5 December 1944, Page 6

WELCOME FOR N.Z. SOLDIERS

VISITS TO ITALIAN VILLAGES “An experience which could happen only once in a lifetime,” was how Private R. A. Hilton, of Invercargill, described in a letter to his parents the welcome which he and a companion received when they visited two Italian villages during a lull in the New Zealand Division’s advance. They were the first Allied soldiers to enter the villages and they received an enthusiastic and tumultuous welcome. Private Hilton is a son of Mr and Mrs R. Hilton, Tramway road. His companion was W.O. (II) L. Kevern.

The people of the two villages had been very lucky, writes Private Hilton. No fighting had taken place in their villages and no damage had been done to any of their property. Describing their entry into the first village, Private Hilton writes: “Suddenly the church bells began to toll and we could hear people cheering. We rounded a corner and we saw a great crowd gathered in the middle of the village. They were shouting and waving and when they saw us they rushed forward to shake our hands and present us with bunches of flowers. After a lot of jostling and pushing we came to a house where two tables had been set out for us in the street. By then all the people from the village were there. Wine was produced and we sat down. Then the flowers really came down on us. Soon we had a pile that would have filled a car. We then met the celebrities of the village, the doctor, the chief of police and various other persons of importance. The chief of police could speak English and we asked him to thank the people for the welcome. When he had spoken they cheered and waved all the more. To them we were the liberators of their village.” ITALIAN SOLDIERS SALUTE

After’ visiting the homes of the village priest and the chief of police, the two soldiers were approached by some men who asked them to visit another village a few miles away. They were taken in an ancient Italian truck bedecked with flags. The people had been warned that they were coming and had made preparations. In the square outside what was known as the Government palace were gathered all the people of the village. As they drove in the two men stood in the back of the truck, waving and saluting until the cheering died down and the flower storm had ceased. When the truck stopped they were carried shoulder high across the square to a large building where they were welcomed by 1 a Government official, who was apparently in charge of the village. Italian soldiers standing guard inside the building snapped to attention and saluted when they saw them, and they returned the salutes in amazement. All this time the people were still cheering. They were told that the people had been awaiting the arrival of British troops for days. Later Private Hilton and Warrant Officer Kevern returned to the street and mixed with the people. They met a Partisan, who was dressed in full uniform—a rifle and web-gear. He wanted to join the Bth Army in their company and become one of them. He had apparently escaped from Germany and had ended up in Italy. Finally they decided it was time to go and, accompanied by the Partisan and followed by the still-cheering crowd, they set off for the camp.