FROM START TO FINISH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 303, 23 December 1939, Page 8 (Supplement)

FROM START TO FINISH.

Xmas Day With The N.Z.E.F.

Time marches on. Glancing through the advertisements in the daily Press one realises that Christmas, 1939, is near at hand. On a news page was a snap of some of the Special Force ready to proceed oversea®, and one's mind travels back and tries to remember those Christmas Days spent with the X.Z.E.F. 1914.—That breakfast of eggs-a-cook, reading the "Timez Egypt" (very good news—Earl Roberts dead, Australians no h good)—what a newsboy! "Those oranges very beeg, very sweet, y er y good, three for a piastre." Strolling through Cairo and examining the mysteries of the Wazza. Oh, memories! 1915.—Christmas niorning at Mudros. Xo breakfast, but orders to embark on the Marsova, en route to Alexandria. The promise of a good dinner, which turned out to be hard biscuits and cold water! Memories of Anzac and cobbers left behind. Where are the boys of the old brigade? A sad and hungry mas Day this. * 1916.—1n the Lavente sector, and on December 23 our battalion takes over the front line for Christmas. Snow and slush, but an extra ration of rum on the 2oth. Everybody toasted, including *ritz. Discipline relaxed for a good old raid on the "cooties." Oh for a clean dip at Takapuria! 1917.—Christmas at Diekebusch. Remember those -working fatigues and wiring parties during this winter? How many coils of barb -wire did you dump m/V f • ,° le ' dod ge the serg.-major and hoof it back to a brazier and some ™ ™ u - c " Ye gods. Hell froze that Christmas, I'll bet. 1018—Cologne, Germany. Special a*** h J W ' nt . the town - a day reunion T a D,ght - A ■ <Knku«n» reunion. La guer.o tres bon. Prossit you frauleins. osslt ' ni l d r n . ow 1939.-A staid old married p,"? . 1S Planning a camping trip at Christmas with the wife and family. But, no, some of the staff are called up this week for another war. The bos* pops in and remarks, "Say, Dig., you'll have to postpone that holiday this Christmas until we reorganise the staff" TWELVE BAR. '