McQUAY'S RETURN.

Waikato Times, Volume 103, Issue 17409, 23 May 1928, Page 8

McQUAY'S RETURN.

MENTAL CONDITION HOPEFUL. MOTHER'S GRATITUDE. WELLINGTON. Tuesday. The New Zealand soldier, George Thomas McQuay, who had been regarded as a "missing*' victim of the Great War, until ho was discovered in an Australian hospital recently, arrived in' Wellington from Sydney today by the Maunganui. He was accompanied by his mother, who went from Stratford to Sydney to idrntify him and bring him home and by two attendants.

Although he was on the top deck of the steamer when it drew in to the wharf, George McQuay recognised his brother and sister at once, and called out greetings to them. He will undergo special treatment, and it is confidently anticipated that his health will before long be such as will permit of his removal to his home in Stratford. Mrs McQuay said the officials of Callan Park had prepared her son to meet her on her arrival there, and each recognised the other instantly.-

"I went to sec him every clay," said Mrs McQuay, "and although he. comd not count, more than five when 1 first saw him, he seemed to improve every day. When we left Sydney he could play quite a good game of euchre, counting the points as well. The doctors in Sydney noticed the improvement and arc hopeful that he will recover. "It has been a great joy to have him restored to us, for we counted him as missing." Mrs McQuay said that at times her son appeared quite normal, but would relapse into quiet periods, such as had been his condition through the years he had been in the Sydney hospital. It was hoped these relapses would ultimately disappear. Mrs McQuay took occasion to thank publicly the New Zealand Government, especially Hon. F. J. Rolleston, the Australian Government, and various interested bodies, for the interest and assistance given her in regard to her son.