FIRST ECHELON

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 202, 21 August 1940, Page 7

FIRST ECHELON

[ NOT BEING FORGOTTEN « i * SUPPLIES OF COMFORTS The Now Zealand official war correspondent being with them, the 1 activities of the men of the Second Echelon of the New Z? a kind Elx- I petitionary Force have been more < in the news than those of. the men : of the First Echelon in the Middle < East. This does not mean, however, that the First Echelon is being over ' looked or is likely to be by Nation- I al Patriotic Fund Board and the ' vast o'girrsalion of workers that « has bacn built up in the last ten ( nionths to -provide the members of 1 the fighting s?rvices from this coun 1 try with cc'mforts from their homeland. | When the change was made in the * destination of the Second Echelon after, its departure from New Zea- . land, resulting in its arrival in the j United Kingdom instead of in Egypt the board's plans to -supply a gift narcel to each member of the First f Echelon were upset, but, happily, i the board has been able to malce '< arrangements to make good this 1 position. • 1 5000 Cases of Apples. j When the First Echelon left New x Zealand, comforts were put aboard the transports for the benefit of , the men during the voyage, and in addition sums in New Zealand cur'■ency of £67.'15 for fit men and £6250 ( for sick and wounded were remitted. to Egypt to provide comforts: for them. The gift parcels: which; had been made uu throughout the; country for the First Echelon in response to the board's appeal were r sent in the ships which took the Second Echelon, together with 5000 cases of apples and* a supply of cigarettes, the understanding at that 1 time being that the Second Echelon also was going to Egypt. These * plans were altered after the ships Wt New Zealand owing to the rapid 1 change which took place in the in- < tcrnational situation, and the Sec- i •ond Echelon went to England. Con- \ the gifts were not receiv- ( ?id hv the Second Echelon. i Under the circumstances, it was } decided to arrange for the parcels i to be distributed among the Second ] Echelon in England and for a fresh ] supply of parcels to be sent to the , First Echelon at the first opportun- , ity. To meet the position in the in- i lerval a cable was sent to Egypt asking that additional comforts be ourchased for the men from funds in hand. Since then it has been possible to make ararngements for the despatch of a considerable consignment of comforts totalling 866 ; cases, to the First Echelon. The 1 consignment comprised approximately 7200 gift parcels and there were also 66 cases of fruit cake ' which generous Wellington donors had given to the board. Although in war* time, there are shipping difficulties which do not make it easy to arrange?for despatches of goods just where and when required, parents and friends of the men can rest assured that the First Echelon is not being forgotten.