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Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23319, 1 October 1945, Page 4

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N.Z. Servicemen More Than 5400 In Two Ships (N.Z.P.A.) WELLINGTON. Sept. 30. Carrying more than 5400 New Zealand soldiers, mainly long servicemen due for discharge but also some exprisoners of war two large troopships, the Strathmore and Dominion Monarch, arrived at Wellington to-day. The weather was brilliant and great crowds of people visited the waterfront to welcome the men. Ability to walk on the v.harves now makes it easier for the public to see such troops arrive, though only relatives of the returning men and other privileged persons may get close.

The Strathmore berthed at the Pipitea wharf at 9.45 a m., and most of her draft of 3263 whose homes were not in Wellington left during the day for their destinations. Men for the southern part of the South Island left the ship first, walking across the wharf and boarding the Rangltira which had been specially berthed there and which sailed later in the morning on a daylight trip to Lyttelton. Those bound for distant parts of the North Island departed at various times during the day by five special trains which were run on to wharf, or by buses. Wellington men left the ship early in the afternoon. Nelson and Marlborough men spent the night in Wellington and will continue their journey home by the Picton and Nelson steamers leaving to-morrow.

The Strathinore is similar to the other P. and O. transport which visited Wellington recently, the Straithaird. except that the Strathaird has two funnels and the Strathmore has one. Tne Strathmore called at Wellington nine years ago in the course of a luxury cruise. At that time she was only a year old. Though still painted grey, she was brightened to-day by being dressed with bunting. The troops who returned to New Zealand in her boarded her at Taranto Italy and in Egypt. Melbourne was her only other port of call. The Dominion Monarch arrived in the harbeur during the afternoon and berthed at Aotea Quay at 5.30 p.m. She had 3094 passengers, 1589 of whom were for New Zealand and 1481 for Australia. Included in those bound for Australia are more than 1000 personnel of the Royal Navy going to various ports in the Pacific and the Far East and a large number of Australian airmen. Members of the N.Z.EJc. aboard included 186 former prisoners of war, who boarded her at Liverpool, and a replacement draft of 853. who embarked at Suez. Very few prisoners of war remain In England. They are principally men who have married in England and sick men. The soldiers who embarked at Suez aie mostly single men of the Eighth Reinforcements. To-night special trains from tne wharf and buses took home the men from the Dominion Monarch who live outside of Wellington. Those for Nelson and Marlborough are spending the night at a clearing station and will cress Cook Strait by the regular steamers to-morrow. Others for the South Island will travel to Lyttelton in a troopship, which is to leave Wellington early to-morrow morning, and will arrive in Lyttelton in the afternoon. The Dominion Monarch sailed from Suez on September 9, five days after the Strathmore, but. unlike the Strathmere, touched at no port after leaving t. pt. To the chagrin of the Australians aboard she passed within sight of their homeland without stopping.