FAMILIAR CAMP SITE FOR N.Z. CONTINGENT

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24882, 23 May 1946, Page 4

FAMILIAR CAMP SITE FOR N.Z. CONTINGENT

VICTORY PARADE

(Specially written for “The Press”)

(By

L. CLEVELAND.)

The recent announcement, that the New Zealand Contingent for the victory parade, will be camped in Kensington Gardens, will stir the memories of 2nd N.Z.E.F. personnel, and members of other services, who were fortunate enough to obtain leave in tne United Kingdom. In this area were both the Milestone and Fernleaf Clubs, where they were quartered during their stay, and here they gained some of their most lasting impressions of English life. The open stretch of grass and pathways that form a large part of Kensington Gardens make a fine camp site and a specially suitable one for visitors. The men who stayed m Kensington dr Knightsbridge during the operation of the divisional leave scheme found one of its chief advantages in being able to reach the heart of the city (Charing Cross, the Strand, Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus, etc.) in 20 minutes by fast tube and bus services.

Reputation of N.Z. Troops The general behaviour of the New Zealand soldiers who began arriving in large drafts from the transit camps at Folkestone and on the continent was soon found to be outstandingly good. The staff of the Milestone Club had established friendly relationships with the members of the Kensington Police Force, holding frequent smoke concerts, cards and billiards evenings, over a few pints of beer, and in consequence the few offenders that did stray into the arms of the law were treated with great tolerance. . . ~ In Italy it was considered desirable by the average man in a fighting unit to get drunk once in a while, often noisily, sometimes riotously. In London, during their leave, few made themselves troublesome. Many tributes were paid them by Londoners, who could be critical enough. The troops who had flocked through London during the war had exhausted their generosity and tried their patience severely. Poles, Canadians, and Americans, probably because of their larger numbers and prominence, chiefly were responsible; but the generally quiet bearing of our men gained them wide respect and regard. Hospitality

One of the most lasting memories of a stay in England under the divisional leave scheme is that of the organised hospitality available to New Zealand service personnel. In London a variety of clubs, institutions, and hard working groups of men and women catered for the entertainment of the troops. By the time the Kiwi arrived in London he had generally become a hardened sightseer. The information bureaus of the New Zealand clubs directed men to a great variety of sight-seeing tours. Special buses were chartered to convey large groups on some of the more popular of these trips, while some industrial firms went to consid-

erable trouble to accommodate their visitors. At the Vauxhall works, which employed about 12,000 people, a special staff and transport were provided to show parties about the huge factory. In a day, by continuous walking, it was just possible to inspect the essential manufacturing and assembly lines of the plant with time to enjoy two excellent meals served in the enormous staff canteen.

The most summary description of leave facilities in London calls for some mention of the hospitality scheme so smoothly directed by Lady Ryder from Cadogan Gardens. Sloane square, a short distance from the Fernleaf Club. This address was always open to New Zealand servicemen and women as well as those of other nations, and, especially while the divisional leave scheme was running, it was much used. Intended to supply hospitality for those wishing to travel in other parts of the United Kingdom, this scheme was supported by hundreds of hosts and hostesses, who very generously, on the receipt of a telegram or telephone call, would throwopen their homes to their colonial visitors. Two hardy New Zealand infantrymen, for example, making a lightning tour of Wales, Cumberland, Scotland, and the Midlands with barely £5 in their pockets, arrived at Windermere railway station in the early morning, still grubby from the dust of the coal face of a Welsh mine, and unshaven from the rigours of an allnight journey in a slow train. They were startled to find a Rolls Royce and chauffeur awaiting them. In this state they swept up to a large country house near the Sunderland flying-boat factory on the shores of Lake Windermere. where they were told to “make themselves at home.” This was not hard to do, but they afterwards comSlained of difficulty in getting to sleep i the seductive folds of enormous silken bed coverings and embroidered sheets! Musical Entertainment Although in London, theatres and concerts are always crowded, the managements frequently provided complimentary tickets and concessions for the New Zealand clubs. In a field ranging from music hall and striptease to Shakespearean drama and symphonic concerts, everyone could usually find something to please. H not, he could try the cinema, although queues were long and prices ranged from 3s 6d to 12s 6d. In the busy periods a “standing room only” ticket might cost 6s! However, by catching a tube or bus to any suburban theatre it was possible to see quite recent films for much less. Standing opposite Kensington Gardens are the famous Albert Hall ana Albert Memorial. Except lor a.chip off one of the corners of the memorial, shattered glass in the roof of the hall, and a line of shrapnel pock-marks in the brickwork of the Royal Geographic Society’s headquarters alongside, there are few traces of the destruction that once rained down here. In the Albert Hall, for-lack of the smaller and well designed concert halls that London badly needs, most of the important orchestral and choral concerts are held. By an arrangement with the Royal Empire Society, through the Keeper of the Privy Seal, New Zealanders (among other overseas troops) were admitted to the boxes of the King and the Duke of Gloucester when they were not required by the Royal Household. As both these boxes were situated in dominant positiona in the grand tier, where a seat might normally cost several guineas, the privilege was valuable and much sought after.