AJAX REAPPEARS

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21418, 12 May 1941, Page 7

AJAX REAPPEARS

ACQUAINTANCE RENEWED EVACUATION OF GREECE AUCKLAND MEN RESCUED (N.Z.E.F. Official News Service) CAIRO, May 10 At the Battle of the River Plate the Ajax and Achilles established a bond of friendship born in adversity with ultimate success. Ajax had the opportunity to renew the acquaintance of the New Zealanders when she found she had the pleasant task of taking officers and men of an Auckland battalion to Greece. The Navy soon made the New Zealanders comfortable drinking toasts and telling stories. The battalion lived up to its reputation of making friends quickly and willingly, and the Navy, down to the ship’s cat, “Horsey,” responded readily. After a short but memorable trip the cargo of wonderful fighting material was delivered and the Ajax reported back for new instructions. About a month later she was waiting off a lonely beach in southern Greece on a dark, calm night, which was by no means quiet, for thunder and lightning in the hills beyond the horizon were the noises and 4he flashes of battle. Scene at the Beach Our army was outnumbered by more than ten to one on the land and was subjected to unchecked and constant attack from the air and was falling back preparatory to embarking after carrying out the biggest and most successful raid on the Germans we nad yet attempted. The Ajax men had already heard that they were to take off their old friends of the Auckland battalion. Officers and men were anxiously peering into the gloom trying to see if anyone was on the beach. Arrangements were completed for embarking the men who had become heroes. At last they appeared—the battalion forming the last organised rearguard. The Germans received such a hiding that they left the New Zealanders glone. The Auckland battalion went aboard hungry and tired. They had only the clothes they stood in, because they had discarded personal equipment in order to save their weapons. This principle was followed rigidly. Men Made Comfortable The battalion clferk came aboard with the duplicating machine donated by the patriotic funds strapped on his back. Food, clothing and warm drinks soon made them comfortable. Old friends gathered to talk over new stories, with “Horsey” comfortably purring on a captured Nazi flag. Thus was enacted another among the several episodes bearing out the complete harmony and understanding of all branches of the British Imperial Forces in the Middle East.