CAMP CHRISTMAS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 60, 20 December 1940, Page 3

CAMP CHRISTMAS

SECOND ECHELON IN BRITAIN.

DOMINION LAMB FOR DINNER.

(From the Official War Correspondent with the NIZ.E.F. in Britain). LONDON, December IS.

Christmas will be spent by the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in Britain in camp, though permission is being given those who wish to go out locally for Christmas dinner. In the expectation, however, that the majority will be taking that meal with their units, the Army Service Corps is making arrangements for special rations, which include New Zealand lamb, an almost forgotten delicacy, and mincepies. In addition, a special allowance of Is head is being expended on all Now Zealand messes to provide nuts, fruit, and similar seasonal trimxnings. The big event this week has been the arrival of the National Pati’iotic Fund Board’s Christmas pai-cels. The echelon sent its own lori’ies to the port of arrival to lift 80 tons, which is at present being distributed to units. Unit commanders will decide when to make the personal distribution, but most will wait till all their men return from leave, so all may get the parcels together. At all events, every man will have a parcel bcfoi’e Clii'istmas. Very particular care is being taken to see that no man misses. If there should be insufficient gifts from home, Colonel F. Waite, gifts commissioner, will buy goods here to make* up the required total. One or two odd small units have already distributed their parcels, and the men of these are highly pleased. The contents of the parcels vary somewhat between districts, but everything sent is most acceptable, and it would be invidious to make, comparisons. As always, tobacco is especially welcome. Soap, even when unwelcome, is most useful. Tinned butter, which some at least of the districts have not included, would have been most popular.

The shipment also included 50 cases of woollen goods, comprising a pair of mittens, a Balaclava helmet, and a scarf for every man. It is felt, and by none more than the men themselves, that others than New Zealanders on this side of the world ‘have an equal or greater claim to these comforts. Accoi'dingly, rather more than half the consignment has been set aside for equal division between British prisoners of war in Germany and Greek troops fighting in Albania. The balance of the articles will be issued to the New Zealand troops most needing them.