Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 - 1955), Friday 19 December 1919, page 5


arrival; at fbemtle

HUGE GATHERING ON QUAY. A WONDERFUL RECEPTION. COLONEL MURRAY CARRIED SHOULDER HIGH.

The idol of the 'diggers' was- .first seen on the boat deck. There could be no mistaking- that figure, so well and popularly known to the soldiers. To. the 'stay-at-homes,' too/ the photographic impression *vas also ?im-mediately 'visualised.'-^ The EI.M.S. Ormonde was' still' some distance from ?the wharf when someone, amongst the

waiting thousands shouted 'There ho is!'- Mb3t, people liad been, looking for, an officer's uniform with its distinguishing strappings amongst the hundreds lining the rails of the vessel, but 'Birdie,' aloft on the boat deck, was quietly attired in his khaki uniform, wearing the popular ''slouch' hat of the 'digger.' The cry of 'There he ds' was followed by a great outburst of cheering as the great soldier smiled and waved his' 'felt' to the cro^vd below. He stood answering the cheers for a minute or two, and then disappeared. 'Birdie' was the foremost of , Three Great Soldiers of the A.I.F. welcomed home to-day, yiz.: — ; ?;, General Sir William Birdwood, G.C.M.G., K.CJB., K.C.S.I., * C.I.E., D.S.O.; AD.C. (Fi)i;--- ..;,.,.?;.? ... - ;; Lieut.-General Sir John Monash, G.C.M.G., K.C.B./ V.D. (F.-; Lieut.-Colonel Henry ' William Murray, V.C, C.M.G., D.S.O. (with Bar), D.CiMirCrdix de Guciire:.. ,\ The R.M.S. Ormonde arrived in1 Gage Roads early in the morning, but it was not until W»?0 that .-she y berthed - at Victoria Quay:'-- * As she moved inta the stream every vessel in port, broke into a chorus of whistling and tooting of sirens. Flags were flying from most of v the vessels, and the wharf was also gaily decorated. At the- entrance of E shed was a large, banner, on which was inscribed: — . -: ?-: ? . ?'??'? 'tGob'ti Old 'Sjfrdie' ! The,i . 'diggers' . : welcbin© you-- to Aussie/'.-./;-.- .' The background for the inscription' was ' a white map of Australia, surmounted with wattle blossoms) 'and crossed with a boomerang;; »,.;-; ^ Right., up, tp; Ihe hour -of the.:, berthing of the ??'?'Orindnde, ' the' croivsl continued to 'grow;- until many thousands of .people, inclucUn-g- hundreds of returned 'men ''from ail parts of .the State, ..ilxad:;, gathered to extend-their welcome.' ' ' 'Promiirent in' ?? the crowd were -Senator Pearce (.Minister for. Defence), the Premier (Mr. James Mitchell), and many military, naval, and' civic-; .dignitaries. Despite the guards', wiiich had been placed on the wharf, the crowd soon - ??? Overflowed the Barricades, and the subsequent manoeuvring to get into position at the foot of the gangway was carried out with the utmost difficulty. The dense crowd pushed and struggled and perspired to ibenear 'the distingiii^hed ' soldiers when they landed, and Ministers, officers, soldiers, and public oifi-cials got- hopelessly Inter-mised; -. The hot sun made ? the long period of waiting- distinctly uncomfortable, *-ut nofoody seemed' ? to mind, for were they not there to 'meet 'Birdie' and the V.C. hero? Impatient' ly, yet good-humoredly, returned men called: ???..?????? ? ? ? y .''Conie On, -Birdie,'n and ''Let's see you, 'Birdie,' ' and so on, A red flag waved -from on iboard .by a lady to friends on the wharf was the1 signal for many humorous references to Bolshevism, and the red was then replaced, amid cheers, first .by a white toaiidkercMef aoid then a blue wrapping, making' the familia-ry red, white and fahie. Patience 'was at long length rewarded, when the familiar (figure again came into view at the head of the gangway. A prolonged outburst of cheermg followed, which was repeated when G'eneral Monash followed down the gangway, whilst there was a specially warm welcome for LienL-Coi. Murray. They had .previously been formaJly welcomed on (board by Senator Pearce and others.