INVALID SOLDIERS

Camp News, Volume 3, Issue 114, 20 March 1942, Page 3

INVALID SOLDIERS

Another Party From - Middle East WELCOME BY MINISTERS < Another party of invalid soldiers was brought back to New Zealand recently. They were a smaller group than some of the previous groups, and the time of their arrival made any large gathering of the public to welcome them unlikely, but they were received by Ministers of the Crown and others representative of their fellowcitizens. ' They were nearly all men wounded or overcome by illness in Libya, but included a New Zealander discharged unfit from the Australian Army, a New Zealand nurse from Egypt, and a New Zealander wounded in Malaya. “We give a welcome to you who have risked all for us, for freedom and for New Zealand,” said the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser. ‘‘On behalf of the people of the Dominion we are glad to have you back. We only regret we are not welcoming back every one of the division.” The spirit New Zealand soldiers had shown in the field was needed in their own country, he said. The atmosphere among them was an example to the < rest of New Zealand, a spirit of cheerfulness in adversity and courage in pain. The best welcome they would get would be from their relatives, but their fellow citizens wished to share it. On behalf of the invalid soldiers, Mr. Fraser thanked those who had tended them during their journey. « The Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones, the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Holland, the mayor of Wellington, Mr. Hislop,- the chairman of the harbour board, Mr. Price. Mr. Mawhete, M.L.C., on behalf of the Maori race, and Mr. W. E. Leadley, on behalf of the Returned Services' Association, also spoke. Among those present were the Attorney-General, Mr. Mason, and the Minister of Labour, Mr. Webb. Following is the list of sick and wounded meh from Wellington and adjoining areas who have recently ■ returned. the rank being private unless otherwise stated — ‘d

Arnold, F. W., Spr, Palmerston North; Atkins, S. W., L/Sgt., Manawatu ; Bailey, H. L., Upper Hutt; Bernecker, 11. J., Wellington; Coe, E. 5.,. Spr., Moera, Lower Hutt; Craigie, W. G., S/SgL, Ngaio ; • Crawley, L. A., .Sgt., Hawke's Bay ; Cunningham, J. J., Dvr., Wanganui; Devitt, J. A., Palmerston North; Donovan, T. J. V., Hastings; Eckert, W., Spr., Lower Hutt ; Ellison, J. R., Pukekaraki ; Farrington, M., Spr., Wellington ; Fowler, N. C., Port Nelson; Frew, H. E., Featherston ; Garrett, H. W., L/Cpl.. Taihape ; Goldingham, H. G. R., Palmerston North; Hardy, S., Capt., Khandallah. Wellington; Harris. T., Wanganui ; Harvey, C. R., Hangatainoka ; Hunt, W. V., Pungarehu; Ireland. L. 8., Dvr.. Napier; Jenkins, A., Cpl., Ngaio; Jones, Macky, Te Karaka, Gisborne; Kinghorn. A., Spr., Dannevirke; Kinzett, L. G., Dvr., Nelson ; Knox, W., Spr., Wellington ; Laurenson. M., Palmerston North McEwen. W. A., Shannon; Mackenzie, D C., Sgt., Wellington. Maclean, G., T/Capt., Wellington; McLean, R., L/Bdr. Kakatahi, Wanganui ; Mansell, E. L., Palmerston North; Montgomery, G. F., Sgmn., Gisborne; Morris, B. 1., Opunake; Morris, C. M., Castlecliff; Munro, W. J.. Wellington; Neal, W. M., Wanganui ; Newsham, H. G., Wanganui ; Oakden, J. E.. W.O. 11, Mangaweka; Oliver, C.. T/Cpl., Wellington; Oram, W. J. H. F.. Dvr., Wanganui East;. Oxenham, J., Tpr., Uruti, Taranaki; Patton, W. J., Feilding ; Putt. H. J., Cpl., Tokaora ; Read, L. E. Dvr., Huntley; Reid, J., Rangitukia; Ryan, J. S., Wellington ; Slater, S. G., Gnr v Greytown. Smith, H. M., Dvr., Wellington ; Smithson, W. F., Dvr., Wellington; Solomon, R., Hataitai ; Spora, J. F., Carterton; Stephen, R. C., Wellilngton; Stott, A. F.,

Lyall Bay; Such, F. W., Gnr., Wellington ; Taunoa. 8.. Wairoa ; Thurlow, C. A., Spr., Napier; Trask, FC J., Palmerston North ; Usmar, F. R., Hunterville ; Ward, P. R., Wellington; Wiles, P., L/Cpl., Plimmerton; Wilkinson, G. 11. 8., Cpl., Wellington ; Woods, J. C., Gnr. Gisborne.