HOME FROM SINGAPORE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 225, 22 September 1945, Page 5

HOME FROM SINGAPORE

15 MORE NEW ZEALANDERS TARANAKI SISTER AMONG THE PARTY (P.A.) Auckland, Sept. 21. Fifteen more New Zealanders, who have been freed from Japanese pri-soner-of-war and internment camps in Malaya, arrived at Whenuapai to-day in an R.N.Z.A.F. Transport Command aircraft. One of them was Miss E. M. Uniacke, of Stratford, formerly sister-in-charge of the physio-therapy department of the Singapore General Hospital. She is the a. t woman to reach New Zealand fr. i Singapore. •Nine of ihe other | ngers in the aircraft were survivors of the Union Steam Ship Company’s cargo vessel Hauraki, which was captured by two Japanese cruisers in the Indian Ocean in July, 1942. These men are the first of prisoners who are officially classified as civilians to return to their own country. The names of the parly were:—

Sister E. M. Uniacke (Stratford). Messrs. I. F. Eack (Hastings), A. Cox (Auckland), R. H. Gibson (Panmure), D. J. Holland (Southampton*, J. McCook (Wellington), A. F. Mclntyre (New Plymouth), K. W. N. MeKenly (Auckland), G. Stuart (Penrose), and W. R. Watts (Dunedin), all from the Hauraki. Messrs. E. P. Riley, R.N.Z.N. (Pihama), P. Blythe (Napier), G. P. Hutton (Wellington >, E. J. Leahy (Wellington), F. V. Lucock (Masterton), all from the Malayan Volunteer Forces.

As was the case with the first paity which arrived, to-day's group looked surprisingly well. However, the cleceptiveness of their appearances was shown by the fact that four of Thursday’s party are now in hospital, iwo, who were admitted on the evening of their arrival, were joined to-day by two others, who were apparently quite well the night before.

In addition to sulfev .:g from the effects of several years of malnutrition, the men have had various tropical diseases during their imprisonment. Most have a history of malaria, and some show’ signs of beriberi, as a result of diet consisting almost entirely of polished rice. The Health Department has issued strict orders that the men are to be carefully examined, and that every precaution should be taken, not only for their own sake, but for the sake of their relatives and the community in general.

Previously discouraged from going to Wl’.enuapai to meet the men before they had been examined, the nex*i ot kin and other near relatives are no longer being permitted at the air station. Arrangements have been made for reunions to be held at respective service transit camps to which the men are sent. that time they wiil have been thoroughly examined by a medical board. The party which arrived to-day supported the statements made the day before by the first arrivals, and declared ihat the New Zealand arrangements for the evacuation from Singapore were fully equal, to and probably the superior of, those of other countries. Their flight, from Singapore to Labuan and thence to Morolai, Darwin, Townsville, Brisbane and Whenuapai had been completely uneventful. The weather had been good and arrangements for their accommodation excellent They had spent the nights at hospitals or evacuation centres, and had been most considerately treated by the various authorities. Eight litters were rigged in an aircraft so that the passengers, none of whom showed any distress during the flight, could take turns in resting or sleeping in them. They arrived wearing a variety of service and civilian clothing, most of it designed for the tropics, but were soon given clothes or uniforms, either by the Red Cross or the Army. The former lujkcd after the passengers classified as civilians, and the latter attended o the men still under military orders.