WESTERN DESERT

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 13770, 13 October 1942, Page 2

WESTERN DESERT

SERVICING OF N.Z. TROOPS

ACTIVITIES PRAISED Praise for the activities of the Y.M.C.A. and Church Army workers in tbe Western Desert as the representatives of the National Patriotic Fund Board by LieutenantColonel F. Waite in one of his latest reports to the board. A full report on the service, stated Colonel Waite, had not at time of writing been compiled, but it was generally agreed that conspicuous service had been rendered under very difficult conditions.

More than one vehicle bore the marks of battle, said Colonel Waite, the Maori canteen having several holes in it.

In connection with the servicegiven by the Y.M.C.A. for the Patriotic Fund Board, Colonel Waite received the following letter from the Rev. J. W. McKenzie, M.M., senior chaplain to the Second N.Z.E.F.: "I have just returned from five weeks in the desert. I feel I ought to tell you that wherever I went I saw canteens loaded with your supplies, and being freely distributed to the sick and wounded, and sold to those who could buy. It was an excellent service and I would like to thank you for the abundance and suitability of the goods you sent into the field."

At a meeting of the N.Z.E.F. Welfare Committee held early in August, Colonel Waite, in praising the work that had been done, said that although the New Zealand National Patriotic Fund Board supplied the money, the excellence of the service was due to Mr H. W. Shove, of the New Zealand Y.M.C.A., and those associated with him. Mr Shove in turn acknowledged the valuable assistance received from* the Church Army.