TROOPS OVERSEAS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 304, 23 December 1943, Page 6

TROOPS OVERSEAS

GREETINGS EXCHANGED MUTUAL GOOD WISHES (P.A.) WELLINGTON, this day. "Congratulations on your splendid contribution toward the early defeat of our enemies, and best wishes lor full success and good fortune for the coming year of strenuous endeavour,'' stales a message from Lieut.General Puttick. C.8., D.5.0., Genera Officer Commanding the New Zealand Forces, to all ranks of the Second N.Z.E.F. in the Middle East and n As' Commander-in-Chief, General Sir Thomas Blarney, G.8.E.. has sent on behalf of all members of the Australian Military Forces, both men women, Christmas greetings of cheer and happiness to the forces of New Zealand. Replying on behalf of the New Zealand Army, Lieut.-General E. Puttick reciprocated the greetings and good wishes. He said: "The experiences side by side of Australian and New Zealand troops in Greece, Crete and North Africa, and now their operations in New Guinea and the Solomons against an enemy which threatened our homeland, have cemented an enduring bond." Medical and Nursing Sincere appreciation of the part played by the New Zealand Medical Corps, the New Zealand Army Nursing Service, and the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (Hospital Division) throughout the victorious African campaign and the new operations in Italy, is expressed in a message conveying Christmas greetings from Brigadier F. T. Bowerbank, 0.8.K, Director-General of Medical Services, to the Director of Medical Services, Second N.Z.E.F.. in the Middle East. Similar greetings are expressed, to the Director of Medical Services, Second N.Z.E.F., in the Pacific, the officers commanding troops on the hospital ships Maunganui and Oranje* the senior medical officers of the New Zealand Forces in Tonga and Fiji- the Director of Medical Services, Air Headquarters, Australia, and the Director-General of Medical Services, Australian Land Forces. Christmas and New Year greetings have also been exchanged between the New Zealand Army Auxiliary Corps in New Zealand and the Auxiliary Territorial Service, London, the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps of the Tonga Defence Force, and similar corps with the Second N.Z.E.F. in the Pacific and Middle East, and with the New Zealand forces on Norfolk Island.