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Welcome Home Smithfield Soldiers
The first of a series of Welcome Home socials in honour of Smithfield and district returned servicemen was held last week in the Smithfield Institute which had been prettily decorated for the occasion by the Victory Girls. The hall was crowded with relatives and friends to greet Cpl Joe McGee P.O.W in Germany for many years: Ptes. Ronald Dudley Bain, James Walter (Jim) Bain, Jack Bain, Stan Watson, Allan Watson and LAC Owen Harris.
Mr W. Smith, President of the Smithfield services Welfare Committee, welcomed the boys and Mr L. Bills spoke on behalf of the Gawler RSL.
The Victory Girls, Pte Arthur Tonkin and Master Ray Whillas rendered items, Miss Gertrude F Blake being accompanist. A delightful home-made supper was served by ladies of the district. A table of honour was placed at the front of the stage for supper for the servicemen and their mothers.
A minute's silence in the darkened hall, with only a cross on the stage .illuminated, in honour of the gallant fallen, was most impressive. The fallen local boys Frank Clucas and Private Percy Spratt were remembered. (October 1945)
The last two returning Smithfield boys, AB Hedley McGee and Private Reginald Watson were welcome home in August 1946. On each occasion the boys were handed an envelope of notes as a mark of gratitude and appreciation from residents of Smithfield. The Victory Girls choir conducted by Miss Blake. Again they stood in silence under the illuminated cross and Mr W Smith, Chairman of the Welfare Committee recited the poem ‘They shall not grow old’.
Reginald Robert WatsonHedley McGeePercy SprattGertrude E BlakeArthur TonkinOwen HarrisAllan WatsonStanley WatsonRonald Dudley BainJoe McGeePlaceSmithfieldThemeWWII