HOME AGAIN

Camp News, Volume 2, Issue 72, 9 May 1941, Page 5

HOME AGAIN

More than 200 sick and wounded from England and the Middle East have arrived in Wellington by the hospital ship Somersetshire. Most of them not having fought in battle they feel that by the misfortune of ill-health or injury, they have been prevented from taking their part in the job they set out from New Zealand to do. The main task of the authorities when the ship arrived was to get the men attended to in the minimum of time and sent safely on the journey to their homes. ' Eighty-four were from England and the rest from the Middle East. For those who came from Britain it was a long trip; more than 100 days. Only a few have been wounded; the great majority succumbed to sickness and general health complaints on service which made it medically inadvisable for them to carry on. A few single men who would otherwise have been invalided home preferred to stay in England and do their bit in-industry or wherever they could best make themselves useful. They can get free passages back up to six months after the war. Official Visits. The Prime Minister, Mr Fraser,' and the Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones, were the first visitors to the Somersetshire, and spent two hours informally chatting with all ranks. Other visitors were ’ Mr. F. B. Stephens, Internal Affairs Department, and Mr. Vincent Ward. M.L.C., an'd Mr. J. W. Andrews, representing the Provincial Patriotic Council. The mayor of Wellington, Mr. Hislop, and the town clerk, Mr. E. P. Norman, and the , chairman of the Wellington Harbour. Board, Mr. W. L. Fitzherbert, and the secretary, Mr. F. Read, paid official visits. Representatives of the R.S.A., Red Cross, and Order of St. John, National Patriotic- Fund Board, and other organizations, went aboard the ship, and distributed comforts to the men. The Red Cross-also provided transport. Thirty-seven Men For Hospital. Thirty-seven of the men have been admitted to the Wellington Public Hospital as jn-patients. The remaindei went to their homes by the first steamer or rail transport available: men living in Wellington were driven to their, homes. All the men were off the ship by 3.30 p.m. on the day of arrival. The organization for getting the men to their relatives and homes as soon as possible worked splendidly, everyone concerned making a maximum effort. Meals were of no account, nor was a breathing spell, compared with the objective of dealing with the returning men in the quickest ti,me. They were medically boarded, dentally examined, outfitted and given warm underclothing, where deeded ; particulars of pensions claims were taken; they were interviewed by State Placement officers with a view to facilitating employment after discharge, seen by Social Security officials m respect of other 'benefits, given new levy books. paid, given travelling warrants to their homes, meal tickets to use en route, interviewed by the ILS.A. regarding membership, and generally assisted in every way possible. Captain D. Cossgrove, officer in charge of Sick and Wounded at Army Headquarters, Lieut. Bryan,

officer for Sick and Wounded in the . Central Military District, and the officers who hold ’corresponding positions at Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin, were in attendance throughout to ensure that the men from the various districts were expeditiously dispatched home and provided for. . The next-of-kin of each returning soldier was advised of arrival by urgent telegram, having already had notified tion that the soldier with whom they a ere erned was on his way home to New Zealand. The •medical officer commanding the Somersetshire is Lieut.-Colonel J. W. Townsend, with R.A.M.C. medical officers, Matron E. Townsend, 13 nursing •sisters and a full complement of ILA.M.C. orderlies. The Somersetshire is well distinguished as' a hospital ship. There is a large red cross on the top deck which is illuminated at night as well as green lights on the sides, which are also lit up. Entertaining Personnel. z Special arrangements are being made to entertain the ship's 'personnel to enable them to .see as, much as possible of New Zealand’s scenic attractions | during their'stay.. The Somersetshire is a B'ibby Line ship which was used for troop transport to various tropical garrisons before the war. She was completely refitted for hospital purposes. • She is a twin-screw steamer of 9716 tons, with a length of -150 feet. She was launched in 1921. The accommodation for the patients is good, quite up to the standard of‘a civilian hospital. The .names of the party of returning sick and wounded, which included sevj eral nurses, are given ue'ow. All are privates except where otherwise stated: Major J. G. C. Leach, Wanganui, Captain C. F. Thomas, Whakatane; Lieutenant A. H. L. Barcisell, Gore; Lieutenant M. V. Wilson, Whangarei; Lieutenant W. 11. Carter. Lieutenant J. K. F. Watson, Auckland; Second Lieutenant J. Hi Corlett, Hamilton; Second Lieutenant H. L. Thomson, Auckland; Sister H. M. Scott, Havelock North; Staff Nurse V. Cartwright, Napier. Sergeant F. Adamson, Wellington; B. Aiding, Oamaru; Lance-Corporal R. J. Alexander, Wellington; Sapper J, Ander- I son, -Wellington; Sapper F. E. Anderson, Wellington; Gunner D. M. Andrews. Palmerston North; H. R. Armstrong, Dunedin; C. A. Arthur, Invercargill; J. E. Ash, Wairoa; Driver L. M. Barr, Auckland; H. E. Bassenden, Wellington; W. A. Beach, Napier; J. E. Beacham, Onehunga, I. J. Bell, Auckland; Lance-Corporal P. A. Bellve, Auckland; Sapper T. G. Biddulph, Inangahua Junction; C. V. Blomfleld, Waitoa, Thames Line; C. T. Blucher, Waihopo. R. K. Bones, Hamilton; Gunner F H. S. Booth, Wellington; Signalman F. H. K Braddock, Nelson; S. J. L. Bramble, Paeroa; Gunner J. Brennan, Timaru: C. S. Brown, Te Rapa; R. F. Buckingham, Auckland; C. E. Burke, Tauranga; J. G. Buxton, Timaru ; T. F. S. Callan, Wellington; Corporal J. 11. Campbell, Hornby; Sapper J. H. Campbell. Napier; C. Capon, Auckland; Corporal R. N. Carpenter, Auckland; Sapper J. J. Channing, Ngaruawahia; R. C. Clouston, Wellington; D. ' McK. Coombridge, Ootorohanga; Sapper W. D. Coote, Christchurch; Sapper M. J. Corkery. Hastings; C. J. Cottier, New Plymouth; Corporal R. T. Craig, Taupiri; Lieutenant R. N. Crampton, Wellington; Sergeant C. N. Crawford; Dunedin, Regimental Sergeant-Major F. Crompton, Nelson Driver J. R. Cross, Auckland; LanceCorporal D. J. Curtis, Christchurch; G. M. Dale, Onehunga; T. E. Davies, Paekak- ! ariki. • Company Sergeant-Major A. G. M. Dent, Waipawa; Lance-Corporal G. Diamond, Christchurch: Lance-Corporal J. M. Dive, ! Wellington; Lance-Sergeant J. Dobson, New Plymouth; Driver p. P. Donald,Maitland; Lance-Corporal A. F. Dougherty. Dunedin; Signalman T. D. Evans, Wellington; Gunner E. Faithful, Ravensbourne; Driver T. Fitzsimmons, Christchurch; Sapper R. J. Forman, Napier; Corporal J. P. Foster, Wellington; A. J. H. Fowler, Marton; S. R. Frewin, Wellington: Driver T. P. Frost, Hamilton; R. J. Gardiner, Frankton Junction; Trooper F. W. Garrett, Kaikoura; Lance-Sergeant D. Glover, Nelson; Gunner J. H. Goldsworthy, Wellington; Sapper J. M. Gough, Kamo; Sapper J.'J. L. Gould, Auckland; T. F. Gregg. Stratford; Driver L. L. Gross, Onehunga; E.- P. Hallmond, Dargaville;, 11. R. Hammond, Auckland; G. H. Hannah, | Auckland; Sapper A. 11. Harper. Dunedin; G. R. Hart, Dunedin; Corporal R. M. Hay, Otahuhu: Sergeant W. D. Haydon, Wellington. Sergeant R. G. Hayward, Wellington; Lance-Sergeant R. N. Heffer. Gisborne; W. M. Henderson, Mangapehi; R. F. Hewat, Wellington; Gunner E. J. Hodson, Nelson; J. D. Hoggard, Wellington; P A. E. Holdaway, Dunedin ; H. E. Holtham, Hunterville; Quartermaster-Sergeant C. K. C. Hopkins, Hastings: F. S. Hubbard, Napier; J. Hudson, Auckland; J. D. Hussey, Mosgiel; Driver E. I. Huston, Christchurch; G. R. Irving, Wanganui; Corporal R C. Jackson, Christchurch; A. J. James, Christchurch; P. G. James, Patea; Sapper E. Johnson, Otahuhu; Driver F. Johnson. Wanganui; C. F. Johnson, Wanganui; G. T. Jones, Gisborne; P. M. Joss, Dunedin; S. J. Kendrick, New Plymouth; Driver J. M. Kennedy, Wellington; Bombardier

I. W. Kirkness, Invercargill; Driver R. Larkin, Tekopuru; E. Leigh; LanceCorporal V. A. Lester, Timaru; LanceCorporal H. A. Lewis, Whangarei; Gunner J. N. Little, Wellington; L. A. Linklater, Kaiapoi; Gunner 11. E. Lloyd, Onehunga; R. G. Loveridge, New Plymouth. B. Luckock, Wellington; T. McConnell, New Plymouth; C. F. MacDonald, Christchurch; Sergeant G. McDougall; C. McDowell; G. D. MeFadgen, Wellington; Corporal IL G. MacGregor, Christchurch; Gunner E. W. L. MacGregor, Waipawa; Lance-Corporal L. It. Mackay, ’Ohai; W. It Mackay, Opunake; D. L. MacLeod, Ha wera; K. A. Mclntosh, Ruatapu; T. J. Major, Wellington; Driver F. J. Marsh, Christchurch; W. F. Martin, Auckland; Gunner F. Martin* Masterton; Driver H. W. Martin. Christchurch; W. G. Matthews, Christchurch; Sergeant W. Max-* well, Muatoria; Sergeant 11. Metcalfe, Orakei; D. 11. Miller Wellington; A. J. D. Mitchell, Hamilton; R. M. Moir, Flaxton; Lance-Sergeant G. K. Maloney, Hawera; Driver J. C. Mooney, Alexandra; W. J. Moore, Christchurch; Lance-Corporal P. J. Morris, Otane; 'Corporal J. L. Morris. Wellington; S. Morrison, Wellington; Gunner J. Murphy, Te Puke; Sergeant E. J. Nation, Wellington; LanceCorporal H. E. Norman, Tuatapere; B. P. Oakes, Ilawera; J. G. Olsen, Hastings; J. E. Penrose, Christchurch; Corporal P. T. N. Pitama, Tuahiwi. ! Sergeant J. S. Porteous, Wanganui; M. E. Prendergast, Ikamatua; Sapper F. A. Ramsay, Ashburton; Lance-Corporal J. P. J. Regan, Christchurch; G. 11. Reeve, Dunedin; Lance-Corporal W. K. Rewha-Rewha, Torere; Gunner C. S. Riley, Christchurch; Sapper A. S. Ritchie, Takaka; F. Robertson, Auckland; L. L. Roebuck, Dunedin; Sapper H. J. Rodgers, Wellington; J. M. Roiall, Auckland; Driver W. G. Rowlands, Christchurch; Gunner W. R. Russell, -Christchurch; Gunner W. H. Roxburgh, Howick; P. R. Ryan, Ngakawau ; C. H. P. Ryan, Wairoa; Gunner 11. W, Ryder, Auckland; Gunner D„ N. Shutte, Christchurch; F. N. G. Sibley, Christchurch; I). C. Slocombe, Southland; G. A. Smith. Auckland G. G. T. Smith, Ashburton; J. A. Smith, Southland; Signalman A. J. Snelgrove, Wellington;- J. H. Standen, Auckland; C. L. Sutton, Christchurch; P. Tahatu, Hastings; Gunner A. D. Taylor, Otorohanga; Gunner P. Taylor, Bluff; R A. Ty Whero. Hastings; A. R. Thomas, Whangarei; .W. .1. Thomas, Christchurch; Sapper H. Thorp, Opunake: J. C Timmins, Auckland; Gunner R. B. Tollemache. ,Te. Awamutu; Gunner W. G. Tooman. Auckland. 11. L. Townsend, Wellington; E. H. Trask, Te Arolia; Sapper C. S. Trichon, Auckland; Sapper O. D. Walesiby, Christchurch: A. C. Wastney, ' Nelson; LanceCorporal F. J. Wardrope; Auckland; R J. Welnoski, Wellington; E. .1. Whitson, Auckland; Bombardier E. S. Wiig, Napier: Bombardier J. Wilkins, Blenheim: Corporal W E. Wilson, .Dargaville; N. F. S. Wood. Taranaki: T. W. S. Loach, A. MeLauchlin :. J. C. R. Smith, Tapanui; Sergeant C. K. -Rosser, C. J. McFerran, Christchurch: W. A. Robinson: SergeantMajor Hardley; Nurse E. J. Jarman, Dickland: Driver A. F. Gogle, Auckland; S. Lawson, Dunedin. In a number of cases there are no home addresses. .

More Than 200 Sick And Wounded - LIST OF MEN WHO HAVE RETURNED