RETURN HOME

Waikato Times, Volume 195, Issue 22457, 19 September 1944, Page 2

RETURN HOME

MEN FROM MIDDLE EAST EARLY MORNING WELCOME Men who left New Zealand in the early months of the war and had not seen their homes for four years were among a party of members of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Middle East, who arrived at Frankton at 5.55 this morning The train, which left Wellington at 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon, was running 40 minutes behind schedule. It was met by representatives of the Army Department, who supervised the despatch of Hamilton and Frankton men to their homes and a number of Area 2 personnel to the Patriotic Hut to fill in time until the departure of the Rotorua and Bay of Plenty trains later in the morning. As the men left the train they lined up to receive their bags from the guard’s van and within a few minutes they had crossed the overhead bridge and were being met on the other side of the line by army officials and in numerous instances by their people. Members of the sick and wounded department assisted in taking the men home. Arrangements were the same as for the arrival of earlier furlough drafts, but on this occasion there were fewer men, the number being less than 50. Major J. B. Cranston, through a loud-speaker, directed the men as they left the train. The men bound for Auckland and other northern stations received refreshments before rejoining the train, which left for Auckland after a 20 minutes halt. It was expected to reach Auckland at 8.40 a.m. Hurf*y to be Home A deep sense of pleasure in being home again after many months in distant lands was evident among the men on arriving at Frankton. Surpassing all else the immediate desire of the Hamilton men was to retrieve their kitbags from the guard’s van of their train and leave the chill breeze which was blowing down the platform from the south to seek the comfort and warmth of their homes and the welcome of their kinsfolk.

A large proportion of the party consisted of men who had been returned on account of a reduction in their medical grading, remarked an officer. About a quarter were men on furlough. The trip by sea had proved uneventful, he said, and though inclined to be monotonous was a welcome change after a long period on land. Everyone was in the best of spirits on arriving at Wellington, but the welcome was dampened somewhat by a wet day. The morale c f the New Zealand troops overseas was good, he remarked: They did not expect the war to last much longer.

Relief at being home again was expressed by one soldier who said that owing to transport difficulties a large number of troops who were returning for medical reasons had had to wait in the Middle East for some time after they had been told they would be returning. On the other hand some of the men had come straight from service in Italy. The New Zealanders in Italy had done a,fine job and were full of confidence regarding a speedy end to the war in Europe. The view was expressed that another month would see the finish * The speaker was keen to learn >-f the reaction of New Zealanders to thfe latest developments in the war and their expectations of early victory. While relatives and others were waiting for the train they were entertained by music provided by Mr Ralph Dixon. This entertainment, which was lacking on earlier occasions, was greatly appreciated.