ATHLONE CASTLE AND THE RANGITATA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 6, 8 January 1946, Page 4

ATHLONE CASTLE AND THE RANGITATA

ARRIVAL DATES THURSDAY

AND FRIDAY OTRANTO DUE LYTTELTON SUNDAY, WELLINGTON MONDAY At present en route to New Zealand with returning service personnel, the transports Athlone Castle and Rangitata are both due to arrive at Wellington this week, the Athlone Castle on Thursday and the Rangitata on Friday. No advice has yet been received in Wanganui as to the actual times oi arrival, and it is not known what transport arrangements have been made for the men after disembarkation at Wellington. In the past, however, troop transports have usually arrived at Wellington in the morning and special rail or road facilities have enabled Wanganui district personnel to reach their homes that night. The Athlone Castle has about 1000 men on board, comprising nearly equal drafts of Navy, Army and Air Force. She is also bringing civilians who have been waiting in Australia for some time for a return passage to New Zealand. The Rangitata has about 900 on board, consisting of 427 Air Force, 256 Navy, 132 Army and 80 dependants. The Otranto, due at Lyttelton about Sunday, has the largest draft of all. She is bringing about. 3000 men home, most of them 2nd. N.Z.E.F. personnel who served in Italy and the Middle East.

The Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones, announced yesterday that the latest information was that the liner Athlone Castle, carrying Army, Navy and Air Force personnel, was expected to arrive in Wellington on Thursday. The Ranagitata was expected to arrive on Friday. Mr. Jones said the Otranto, with 3800 personnel aboard, would make her first port of call Lyttelton. She was expected to arrive there on Sunday, after which she would proceed to Wellington, arriving next Monday. The following Wanganui and district R.N.Z.A.F. personnel are aboard the Athlone Castle: Bmlinga’l. F/Sgt. B. C. Burton. Flying-Officer W. B. Candish. F/Sgt. A. A. Ellis, Pilot-Officer A. W. Flyger, F Sgt. N. C. Cibbs, Flying-Officer M. V. Hall. F/Sgt. H. T. Harris, Flying-Officer N. N. Hocken, Flying-Qfficer M. E., Moumahaki. Jones. Flying-Officer C. R. Robson, Flying-Officer N. K.