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Documents Relating to New Zealand's Participation in the Second World War 1939–45: Volume II

469 — The acting Prime Minister of New Zealand to the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs

469
The acting Prime Minister of New Zealand to the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs

21 June 1945

We have been informed by General Freyberg of his plans for the return to New Zealand of those men of the Division whom he has decided will be repatriated.1 There is a total altogether of 20,700, and we are anxious and very much hope that you will find it possible to meet us in this and to arrange that the shipping is available about the dates that the men are ready to leave. This will ensure that those men who will normally return to food production and associated industries of high priority in New Zealand are available to accept employment at the earliest possible date.

Shipping from Egypt will be required as follows:

14 July 5000
30 July 5500
8 September 9500
Total 20,000 all ranks

An early assurance that shipping will be available for the repatriation of these men on the dates required would be appreciated.

1 Two telegrams from General Freyberg on 10 Jun, giving the numbers to be repatriated in the 6th to 10th Reinforcements and reclassified ex-3rd Division personnel (a total of 20,700), have not been reproduced. In the second of these telegrams General Freyberg asked the New Zealand Government to make representations to the United Kingdom Government for the provision of shipping.