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Stratford Evening Post, Issue 62, 24 May 1928, Page 5

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RETURN OF GEORGE McQUAY.

MOTHER'S THANKFULNESS. Mrs McQuay, accompanied by her son, Mr W. McQuay, and daughter, Mrs Mather, returned by 'motor to Stratford early this morning, after a visit to Sydney in connection with the finding of her son George, who has bee n "missing" for the past ten years or so. Mrs McQuay went over to Sydney and identified her son, who came hom e with her, arriving at Wellington by the Maunganu' on Tuesday. George was on the top deck of the steamer, but as she neared the wharf he was able to recognise his brother and sister.

CONFIDENT OF RECOVERY,

Seen this morning by a representative of the "Post" Mrs McQiv.y expressed great thankfulness £o? the successful issue of her mission i'Ld confidence that her son w r ouid mot. be restored to normal health, mentally and physically. At present he is suffering from the effect of shell-shock and complains of a terrible headache. George was an inmate of the Callan Park home at Sydney, and he recognised his mother as soon as he saw her on her arrival there. She saw him daily while she was in Sydney and he seemed to show improvement every day. By the time he left Sydney he could play a good game of euchre and count the points correctly. At times, however, he relapses into quiet periods, such as were common during his stay in the Sydney home, but Mrs McQuay expects that these periods will gradually disappear. Mrs McQuay is desirious Of publicly expressing thanks to all who have rendered her assistance in her very trying time—the authorities in Sydney, the Minister of Defence (Hon. Ft J. Rolleston), his secretary (Mr Dixon) Mr Clement (of Base Records) and Messrs J. B. Hin e and R. Masters, of Stratford, who rendered much help at this end.

INTENSE GRATITUDE. "I have come back to New Zealand", said Mrs McQuay, "with a much lighter heart and with feelings of intense gratitude. I feel it is only a question of time when George will have his mind fully restored." Since arrival in Wellington Mrs McQuay spent a lot of time with her son, and noticed improvement even in that short time.

Dr. Garbery, formerly a well-known resident of Stratford, boarded the Maimgauui when she arrived. He said to George: "Do you know me?" George replied: "Yes, you are Dr. Carbery. Does your mother still go to church every morning." From the' fact that it is thirteen years since George last saw Dr. Carbery and that ho so readily recognised him, Mrs McQuay is very hopeful of George's full recovery. At first, in Sydney, George would not speak, but did so after a while. Mrs McQuay said to him one day: "Mr Boon wants you to go to work for him." To this George replied: "You mean Mr Jos. Boon." Mrs McQuay quoted this as another justification of her confidence that George will be fully recovered aT an early date. He is now in a soliders' institution near Wellington, but it is hoped that at an early date he will be sufficiently well to -return to his hom e in Stratford.